Their Service. Their Sacrifice. Their Stories: Paws of War Honors Women Veterans This Veterans Day

Veterans Day is November 11, a time to honor the millions of American men and women who have answered the call to serve our nation. Paws of War recognizes the courage, commitment and sacrifices of all veterans, many of whom continue to face challenges long after their military service ends. For some, their commitment to helping others also continues long after they return home.

This Veterans Day, Paws of War is putting women veterans in the spotlight by sharing the stories of three women whose military service, personal challenges and continued dedication to helping others deserve recognition. While men and women have both played vital roles in protecting our country, the organization hopes to bring greater awareness to the contributions of women who have served. Women have been part of America’s military history since the Revolutionary War in 1775, and their service and sacrifices continue to make a difference today.

“Women are an important part of our country’s military, and we want to make sure they get honored,” said Mike Kilano, U.S Marine Corps veteran and veteran resource coordinator at Paws of War.

According to the U.S. Department of War, women make up around 17% of the active-duty force, totaling nearly 232,000 military members. They also make up over 21% of the National Guard and reserves, with 171,000 members. The number of women in the military in the U.S. has increased since 2017. They report that since the American Revolution, there have been 3 million women who have served in the armed forces, contributing to the country’s strength and resilience.

In honoring female veterans, Paws of War is putting three women in the spotlight who are dedicated to helping others as they navigate the challenges that come after their military duty is over. They work with the organization, taking their experiences and turning them into opportunities to help other veterans. The three women, Angelique Williams, Dawn Amato, and Mary McCue, each have their own stories, but all share the mission to continue to serve others.

As a U.S. Navy veteran, Williams served aboard the U.S.S. Rainier and continued her career in the Navy reserve. She supported military operations in the Middle East, managing logistics, security and personnel programs. Once she returned home, Paws of War paired her with a rescued dog from the Middle East named Buddy. He was trained to be a service dog, and being paired with her helped change her life. Today, she works with the organization’s War-Torn Pups & Cats program, helping to reunite service members with the animals they bonded with while overseas on deployments. She also serves on their disaster response team. She’s a great example of how the connection between a veteran and a rescued animal can be life enriching and lead to new purposes. 

Amato spent more than 21 years in the military and continues to dedicate her life to helping other veterans. She serves as a senior advocate for the organization, helping to connect women veterans to resources and support, with her advocacy focusing on helping those with challenges such as PTSD, homelessness, trauma, and transitioning to civilian life. A mentor to other female veterans, she helps others build connections so they can continue to move forward. She’s a shining example of how veterans can put their experiences to use, helping to make a difference in the lives of others.

A U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, McCue answered the call to join the military following the 9/11 attacks, continuing her family’s legacy of service.  She served for seven years and completed two deployments to Iraq. She found life too challenging once she returned home, which led to her struggling with PTSD and alcoholism. Paws of War paired her with a rescued Labrador named Abby, who had been trained through the organization’s service dog training program. Abby gave McCue a renewed sense of purpose, providing her with support, stability and companionship, and helped her through recovery. Today, her experiences are important in helping other veterans who are facing difficult circumstances. As a volunteer and mentor, she helps other veterans work through their challenges.

Paws of War is grateful to all women who are and have served in the military and encourages others to honor them this Veterans Day. Here are several ways to honor women veterans this holiday and all year long:

• Give thanks. No matter who she is, give thanks to the women who have served in the military and let them know their sacrifices are appreciated. 
• Lend an ear. Every veteran has a unique story about their experience, and sometimes it helps just to be able to share it. 
• Provide support. There are many veterans in need of services. Supporting organizations such as Paws of War helps to further the mission of giving veterans tools and resources they need as they transition to civilian life.

To get more information, visit the website at: http://pawsofwar.org.