About 50 women veterans and supporters gathered at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island on Tuesday afternoon, March 10, before departing for Washington D.C. to join around 100 other Florida female military veterans. The flight marked the first all-female veteran trip in state history, organized to honor women who have served in the U.S. military. Dorothy Kiernan Walsh, a local advocate for veterans through her nonprofit 'Their Voice of Hope,' helped coordinate the event. Though not a veteran herself, Walsh has long supported causes related to military service members and their families.
The group departed from the memorial center, a hub for local veterans' events, and traveled to D.C. where they joined other Florida women veterans for a planned series of meetings and ceremonies. The trip aimed to highlight the contributions of female veterans and address issues affecting their community, including healthcare access and employment opportunities. 'This is about making sure their voices are heard,' Walsh said during a pre-trip briefing. 'We’ve waited too long for recognition.'
The event drew participants from across Brevard County, including retired service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Some had served in conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan, while others were part of earlier generations of military women. The group included both active-duty personnel and civilians who support veterans' causes. Local officials expressed pride in the initiative, calling it a 'testament to the strength and resilience of women in uniform.'
The flight was arranged through a partnership between 'Their Voice of Hope' and the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. Organizers said the trip would include meetings with legislators and participation in a women veterans' symposium in D.C. The event is expected to draw national attention, with media outlets covering the historic gathering. 'This isn’t just a trip—it’s a movement,' said one participant, a retired Air Force captain from Cocoa. 'We’re showing what women veterans can achieve when we stand together.'