National Vet Girls ROCK Day – February 19, 2024

History of National Vet Girls ROCK Day

National Vet ROCK Day was established in 2017, celebrating the history and lives of women in the military. Long before women were allowed to serve in the military, they participated in wars as nurses, cooks, and caretakers for the soldiers.

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Navy Nurse Corps; the first 20 female participants were called ‘The Sacred Twenty.’

The first woman to be officially enlisted was Loretta Perfectus Walsh in 1917, when she joined the American Navy. Women were officially allowed to participate in active military and combat roles in the last two years of World War Il. 33,000 women signed up to serve in different roles. Hundreds of them were a part of the Women Airforce Service Program, testing military aircraft.

They have also made a remarkable distinction in the history of the U.S military. After the Civil War, Dr. Mary E. Walker was honored with a medal for her work as a surgeon during the war.
In 1998, Commander Maureen Farren became the first woman to command a combatant ship, the USS Mount Vernon. In 2016, Captain Kristen Griest became the first female Army Infantry commander, after graduating from Ranger school.

Female veterans also struggle with mental, physical, and financial problems, and find it difficult to integrate into civilian life after experiencing war. Many women suffer from MST (Military Sexual Trauma), cardiovascular risk factors, depression, eye and skin disorders, and spine conditions.

This calls for support and care from every person. Support groups for female vets have been created and National Vet Girls ROCK Day was established to create more awareness and give them more support. It is celebrated in meet-up groups in different spots around the country; you can join one to celebrate.