'Realize there are women veterans among us'
Albert Lea TribuneMar 11, 2018
What started over 20 years ago as two women meeting for lunch has morphed into an organized group centered around camaraderie and strength.
The group's first commander,
Luedtke served in the
Serving in the military as a single mom was "tough at times, of course," Luedtke said, but she made it work. Her son, 17 years old at the time, was actually in boot camp the same time she was -- albeit in different states -- while her daughter stayed with relatives while Luedtke went through boot camp.
Going through boot camp as a 34-year-old, Luedtke said she "mopped up more tears in boot camp in two weeks than in two years of nursing."
Even though she saw younger recruits struggling with the discipline, Luedtke said she made some great friends during her time in the service.
When Luedtke served in the early '90s, she said only about 11 percent of those serving were women. Part of
"It's mostly to get the community to realize there are women veterans among us," she said.
The group discusses their time serving, articles about veterans and ways it can help out in the community during the monthly meetings. The group donates to the local food pantry regularly, has made prayer shawls for those in need and has written out Christmas cards and gotten gifts together for those serving overseas in partnership with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. The group also takes part in the Third of July Parade and attends
Luedtke said she would like to see women veterans get more involved with honoring veterans at funerals and other events.
"I'd like to see some of us women walking up front," Luedtke said of the veterans groups that walk at the beginning of the Third of July Parade. As it stands now, the women ride in Luedtke's
While
Something that has grown within the group over the years has been the recording of its history. Luedtke said it was almost distressing when she first joined, as no one had really been keeping meeting minutes, so trying to find out the group's origins took more time than it should have. That has changed, as minutes are kept each month and published.
While the group's members pay dues --
Luedtke said the group members have taught each other and encouraged the best in each other. She encouraged any female veterans to get in touch with the group, which meets the first Wednesday of each month at the
"It's just a nice, healthy get-together every month," she said.
By the numbers
1996 --
2 -- Years
23 -- Years Luedtke served in the Army and
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