The Colorado Chapter of the Women Marines Association (WMA CO-1), The Colorado Division of Veteran Affairs Women’s Representative, and the American Legion All-female post 206, co-hosted the Inaugural Women Veterans of Colorado Conference on February 10th, 2024, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of WMA CO-1 and bring women veterans together to learn about their benefits and share their stories.
We were honored to have the Air Force Veteran, Col. Nicole Malachowski as our keynote speaker! National WMA President, Lt Col (R) Ann Crittenden was the special guest speaker. Other VIPS included Colorado Representative Holthorf, who introduced a bill declaring June 12th as Colorado Women Veterans Day; WMA National VP – Patricia Collins, WMA National Chaplain – Melinda Townsend; Colorado Adj General’s Command Chief, Master Sgt. Lisa E. Perry spoke on behalf of the Adj General; Aurora’s Mayor Mike Coffman.
A special presentation was made to the Mayor of Aurora for his support of this chapter since 2006. The first ever WMA CO-1 “OOHRAH” award was presented to the city of Aurora for their support since 2001 and the second to the Double Tree Hotel for their support since 2006.
A presentation prior to the luncheon discussed issued peculiar to women veterans and the benefits they are eligible to obtain. The speakers were, Janelle Mendelson, Public Affairs, Camille Wells, Women’s Programs, from the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center and Rebecca Sawyer-Smith from the VA’s VBA.
Our sponsors were: Troy Williams/ReMax/Homes for Heroes, Mountain States Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Valley Hope Addition and Recovery, Grand Canyon Education, Aurora Police Department, Lending Vets Mortgage Broker, VFW Department of Colorado Medicare Mentors, LLC, Duncan Tuck, Inc., the Scanlon Family, and “In Honor of Sgt Tony Sarlls”.
