Army Women's Foundation to Recognize Outstanding Army Women and Address Key Issues at Sixth Annual Hall of Fame Induction and Summit

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Army Women's Foundation will bring together service members and veterans, leading employers, members of Congress and more than 200 attendees for its Sixth Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Summit on March 11 and 12 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Presented with support from The Home Depot Foundation and other partners, the event will honor outstanding Army women, recognize their advocates in Congress, and address key issues facing Army women on the battlefield and on the home front.

"The mission of the Army Women's Foundation is to celebrate and preserve the achievements of women who serve in the Army and help them prepare for ongoing success whether they continue their careers as soldiers or return to civilian life," said retired Maj. Gen. Dee Ann McWilliams, president of the Army Women's Foundation. "Each March, as our nation observes Women's History Month, we gather to honor female service members past and present and continue the important work of addressing issues of transition, employment, education and health care for Army women."

"It is through the recognition of our heroes we see into the souls of our people and ultimately the Army. People are the strength of our Army; and women represent the best of the best," said retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, president and CEO, Association of the U.S. Army, 32nd Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, and co-chair of the events.

The 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 11, and will honor:

• The 14^th Women's Army Corps (WAC) Band, the last all-female military band
• Six female recipients of the Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor and gallantry in action, whose award will be accepted by retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston
• Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Michele Jones, the first woman in the U.S. Army Reserve to achieve that rank

The Army Women's Foundation also will honor two Army women currently serving in Congress - Reps. Tammy Duckworth and Tulsi Gabbard - and will recognize other members of Congress who have championed the issues of Army women.

"We appreciate the dedication of the women who bravely serve our country and are proud to help address the growing need for women veterans and their families to gain access to safe and affordable housing solutions," said Fred Wacker, director and chief operating officer of The Home Depot Foundation, and co-chair of the events. "We are honored to join the Army Women's Foundation in recognizing this year's Hall of Fame inductees, and all women who have served in the Army."

"It is a privilege to support and participate in this great annual event honoring our Army's women for their outstanding service and commitment to our nation," said retired Lt. Gen. John M. "Mike" McDuffie, vice president, Americas Services Business Development, Microsoft Corporation and co-chair.

The summit, titled Army Women: Ready and Resilient, will take place on Wednesday, March 12, and will feature panel discussions focused on education, economic stability, career transitions, medical and emotional resilience, and other issues affecting Army women. Speakers and panelists will include nationally recognized thought leaders in health care, combat readiness, workforce development and resiliency. Currently scheduled to appear are:

• Brig. Gen. Linda Singh - Maryland National Guard
• Col. Ellen Haring - U.S. Army Reserve / Women in International Security
• Retired Lt. Col. Teresa Gerton - Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor
• Pamela Johnson - Goodwill Industries International
• Elisa Basnight, Esq. - Center for Women Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Keynote speakers scheduled for the event are Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Nadja Y. West, Joint Staff Surgeon, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. Following the keynote, McWilliams, Wacker and Chandler will present the Army Women's Foundation 2014 Legacy Scholarships.

The Army Women's Foundation Legacy Scholarship program supports education for Army women and their children through tuition assistance for technical certificate programs, community college coursework, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Scholarships are based on merit, academic potential, community service and need. Including the 2014 awards, the Army Women's Foundation has awarded $144,000 to 83 recipients through the Legacy Scholarship program.  

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION
The U.S. Army Women's Foundation is the premier center for educational excellence, the national network for today's Army women, and a dynamic advocate for telling the history of Army women. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to recognize and honor the service of women in the Army and to support the Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, Va. For more information, visit www.awfdn.org.

SOURCE Army Women's Foundation