They are regularly on the front lines, having served in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. They proudly wear the camouflage of the United States military and many leave their spouses and children behind when they are deployed.
However, unlike the men of the armed forces, women who serve are oftentimes forgotten or, as one organization notes, invisible.
“I am a veteran and personally, this organization means that I am able to reach out to women veterans, active duty, reserve and National Guard to bring them information and develop opportunities to address their issues,” said JoAnn Fisher, CEO of Women
Veterans United Committee, Inc., which works to ensure needs are met for women veterans.
The organization’s mission is to honor the service and sacrifice of female veterans who have served in the military and to form a sisterhood to foster camaraderie that can connect women veterans with others.
The group is hosting a “Women Veterans Invisible No More” Expo at the Baltimore War Memorial on Friday, November 6, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“This expo will give women an opportunity to be heard,” said Fisher, who has served as Chair of the Women Veterans Committee at State level with the Disabled American Veterans service organization in Washington and Maryland.
She is known widely for her work with women veterans.
Originally established in 1995 as The Women Veterans Committee, Inc. under the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Maryland, Inc., the group was reorganized as an independent entity separate from the DAV earlier this year.
“The expo will give women an opportunity to work with other veteran service organizations, the community, political leaders, and other stakeholders to assist with developing ways to help veterans and their families with housing, health issues, finances, and their future,” Fisher said. “Homelessness is a major issue for women as well as women with children. This organization gives an opportunity to develop ideas and opportunities to reach out and help women help themselves.”
Fisher, who lives in Oxon Hill, does a great deal of work organizing events and opportunities for women veterans to obtain information for jobs, filing claims to receive benefits, as well as, quality assistance for improving their life, according to her bio.
Her goal with the organization is to reach out to more women veterans to encourage them to join veteran service organizations in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area.
At the expo, Fisher says attendees can expect networking, job opportunities, housing information, camaraderie, and support. It will also serve as a reminder to women veterans that “there are others like you,” Fisher pointed out.
“This organization is strongly focused on homelessness with attention to creating housing for women veterans as well as women with children and other opportunities to improve their lives,” Fisher said. “With a very large area dedicated to claims. Most of all come and network as well as enjoy camaraderie with those who truly care about us.”
For more information about the organization or the expo, visit: www.wvucinc.org.