Europa Newswire.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke.
Minneapolis, US - Ruth Hedlund, a member of Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (Waves) National, enjoys lunch with a friend. WAVES National, established in 1979, is a Sea Service women's organization for women who have served or are currently serving in one of the sea services; U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard or Reserves. Women veterans from all over the North Midwest gathered at the Veterans Affairs Medicial Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
The mission of the Minnesota Women Veterans program is to ensure women veterans have equitable access to federal and state benefits and services. The program ensures response to the gender specific needs of women veterans and that women veterans are treated with dignity and respect. It provides outreach events to improve awareness of available benefits, services, and eligibility criteria for the women who served the United States Armed Forces under other than dishonorable conditions. The Women Veterans Coordinator collaborates with federal, state and local agencies pertinent to women veterans; coordinates and performs outreach events to improve benefits and services available; assesses the needs of Minnesota Women Veterans and provides recommendations for benefits and service improvements to the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. For more information about the local chapters visit: http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/women
Source: Minnesota National Guard.