U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV – News Update

What would it feel like to touch the clouds and then gather its energy in your hands? Tai Chi is a mindful movement that pairs breathwork with a meditative movement that can be relaxing, restoring and energizing. The Tai Chi cloud hands movement form is a common postural exercise that uses dynamic movement to develop the back muscles, relax the neck and shoulders, and increase blood flow and the movement of “qi” (energy) within the body. [From VAntage Point]

During Women’s History Month, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Barbara Allen Rainey, the first woman pilot in the service’s history. Born in August 1948, Barbara Allen Rainey continued the military tradition in her family by joining the Navy; she was both a daughter of a Naval officer and a sister to a U.S. Marine Corps aviator. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

Each month, VA’s Center for Women Veterans profiles a different woman Veteran author as part of its Women Veteran Authors Book Corner. This month’s author is Coast Guard Veteran Vice Admiral (ret) Sandra Stosz. Stosz served on active duty from 1982-2018. In her 40-year career, she broke ice and glass as the first woman to command an icebreaker on the Great Lakes, and was the first woman to lead a U.S. armed forces service academy. [From VAntage Point]

March is National Nutrition Month and is a chance to celebrate eating healthy. National registered dietitian nutritionist day is also in March and is a chance to showcase dietitians as the food and nutrition experts. Each year we celebrate with a new theme and for 2022 the theme is “Celebrate a world of Flavors.” [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Gail Reals. Reals was the second female brigadier general in the Marine Corps. Gail Reals was born in 1935 in Fayetteville, New York. When Reals was a high school freshman, her father passed away. So, at age 14 she left her family to earn money as a live-in babysitter. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Gail!

In this episode of the Vets First Podcast, hosts Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview Dr. Alejandro Pezzulo, a pulmonologist, and assistant professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa. This episode was recorded in August 2021 during the height of the pandemic’s Delta wave. We think this is an interesting look into COVID-19 with a critical care provider. [From VAntage Point]

During Women’s History Month, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jessica Ellis, who was killed in action in Iraq. In high school, Jessica Ellis participated in dance groups and various sports teams, such as track, cross country and swim. She graduated in 2002 from Lakeview High School in Oregon. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

This #OperationSong spotlight is on “What I Want You to Know” by Army Veteran Summer Elmer, with help from songwriter Angela Kaset. Summer Elmer was raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by her family members who had served in the military (specifically the Army), she decided to follow the “family tradition” by enlisting. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Phyliss Carpenter. Phyliss Carpenter joined the Air Force after high school for the education benefits that would allow her to continue her education. Three of her older brothers had already served in the military, including in different branches and one who served in Vietnam. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Phyliss!

This week’s America250 salute is Marine Corps Veteran Katherine A. Towle, first director of Women Marines and the second director of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. Katherine A. Towle was the first director of Women Marines and the second director of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. During her service, she received a Legion of Merit, a Navy Commendation Medal, and American Campaign Medal and a World War II Victory Medal. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Kathy LaSauce, who was one of the first female pilots in the Air Force and the first woman aircraft commander. After graduating from college, Kathy LaSauce worked as a high school English teacher in New York. At the time, she felt like she wanted to “do more.” [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Kathy!

On International Women’s Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Phyllis Mae Dailey, the first African American Navy Nurse Corps member. On March 8, 1945, Phyllis Dailey became the first African American to swear in as a Navy nurse. Before swearing in, Dailey graduated from the Lincoln School of Nursing in New York and was a public health student at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.