Jackson State University President Carolyn W. Meyers paid tribute to the contributions of women, especially women veterans, during a program Thursday, March 27, at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Meyers was the guest speaker during the center’s Women’s History Month program.
“Women have been on the front lines enabling, if not liberating, all through the ages,” Meyers said. “Where would we be without women in combat. Before they could serve, women were at home, but they pushed their fathers, husbands and sons out to serve, armed with their love and support.”
Meyers also thanked the VA for being a “partner” of JSU as the educational institution prepared the next generation of military and medical leaders.
Joe D. Battle, the center’s director, said more than 80,000 women serving in combat from Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn have been added to VA rolls. Some 3,000 women veterans receive care at his center, Battle said.
“As the rules of war have changed on the battlefield so have the faces of our troops,” Battle said. “We want to provide the best healthcare for our women veterans.”
During the program, two VA employees – Nurse Educator Stella Harris and Program Support Assistant Emily Andrews – were announced as “Women of the Year.”
Harris said she was “humbled” by the honor and dedicated to her mother, who was sitting in the audience.
Andrews said she was honored to have the opportunity to serve veterans.
“I’m not a veteran, but by working here, I feel like I am giving back to my country,” Andrews said.