Retreat unites about 100 women veterans to empower and share their military stories

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A retreat at the War Memorial Center hosted about 100 female veterans who shared their military stories on Friday, April 26. 

Women have served in the military in one way or another for more than 200 years, and even today, female veterans in Milwaukee told CBS 58 News they've faced a number of challenges including sexism and sexual trauma.

"We don't get to tell our stories or if we do tell our stories...we're invisible, we're not listened to," said Dona Drew, one of the organizers of the event.
Drew was served as part of the United States Marine Corps from 1989-1993 and partook in 'Operation Desert Storm.' She is now the community engagement and partnership coordinator for the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs, and she said the retreat was meant to unite and empower retired military women.

"It's just really important to have a space for us women to gather, to talk, to connect," she explained.

Many, like Dianne Young, who joined the United States Marine Corps in 1983 and served for 20 years, shared their own personal hardships while serving their country.

"I've felt and it's been my experience that women often had to work harder than the men to even be considered adequate," Young said.

Young opened up to CBS 58 News about a military party she attended in the late 90s where she said she was raped by a superior. Young said she immediately sought help and support.

"But the way the military actually handled it was worse than the situation itself," Young went on to say.

According to the New York Times, in 2021 nearly one in four U.S. servicewomen reported having been sexually assaulted in the military, reaching an all-time high in more than a decade.

For Young, the trauma resulted in what she refers to as a "dysfunctional lifestyle."

"I had created 12 years of being emotionally shut down from my family and my friends, and work," she said.

Until 2015, when she became part of the Healing Warrior Hearts Program.

"That changed my world," she recalled. "I really started to focus on my own healing."

Now, Young is an advocate.

On Friday, roughly 20 different vendors offered free resources to veterans. In addition, they were able to participate and break out into group sessions with different activities.

Drew also said a big takeaway, if nothing else, recognition--for the depths of their service.

"Just validated that our service counted, you know, maybe we did something different, but we still signed our name to someone, our men counterpart," Drew said.

She hopes this retreat becomes an annual event for more women to share their military stories in the future.