Women Veterans Day (also known as Women Veterans Recognition Day) is observed annually on June 12th to commemorate the 1948 signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which granted women the legal right to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Armed Forces.
Pat Mason Guillory, St Landry Parish Veterans Memorial CEO a and her volunteers also honored women veterans on Friday with an open house at the SLPVM Welcome Center where the veterans were given pins of appreciation and a profound thank you from the large crowd in attendance at the welcome center. Many veterans visited the center throughout the day long event where St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard was guest speaker. All branches of the service was represented and I was able to visit with several of the veterans prior to lunch provided by Benny’s Supermarket.
Some of the early arrivals included Opelousas resident Gwendolyn White who retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 after 30 years of distinguish service. She enlisted at 28 years of age. Her first sea duty was on a destroyer where she remained at sea for four months. Her specialty code was that of a cryptological technician with her expertise being in morse code. A past commercial for the navy was join the navy and see the world. Gwendolyn can attest to that statement having visited 89 coutries during her 30 year enlistment. Abbeville resident Yulandra Moody spent four years in the U. S. Army as an administrative specialist attaining the rank of E-4. Yulandra has her older cousin to thank for her time in the army. “The first time I saw my cousin in her dress uniform then I knew I wanted to follow her,” she said. Charlie Renaud Learl, who hails from Opelousas was in the U.S. Army Reserve for nine years putting her law degree to work as a JAG (Judge Advocate General) mostly in the New Orleans area. After retiring she returned to her home town of Opelousas where she has a law practice. Mona Davis Stewart spent 24 years and eight months in the US. Army before retiring as a SFC (Sergeant First Class). Her tour in the middle east included time in Kurait. Martin Thomas-Moore returned to her home town of Opelousas after retiring from the U.S. Army as a major. Julie Massicot of Lafayette spent her time in the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Storm where she was a helicopter mechanic.
