Rancho Mirage woman leads Army veteran ladies in Phoenix

The Phoenix chapter of the Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association – Army Women United yesterday announced the donation of more than $2,700 of requested goods to the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

This donation included an array of household goods, hygiene products, gift cards and bus passes for veterans who are newly housed after being homeless. Chapter members pitched in together to assemble the variety of donated goods.

“Our chapter focuses on serving our fellow veterans and we do that in several ways,” says Sheree Bigge, Chapter 68 President since 2013 and a Rancho Mirage resident.

“Many members also give their time and treasure to Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewish War Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Enlisted Association of the National Guard, Association of the U.S. Army, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of World Wars, Unified AZ Veterans and the AZ Veterans Hall of Fame Society in addition to veteran and community projects.”

Member Stacey Eastwood says, “I like the Chapter 68 socials the best. We gather together once a month, share a meal and enjoy the camaraderie. We hold a raffle and raise money to help vets in need.”

Chapter 68, one of three WACVA-AWU chapters in Arizona, meets socially once a month, typically at a restaurant in the Valley. Members reside in Phoenix, East, West and South Valley, so the monthly social location rotates. Each May, Chapter 68 hosts an annual celebration of the anniversary of women in the U.S. Army. This year marked the 82nd anniversary of women serving in the U.S. Army . Each December, Chapter 68 hosts an annual holiday tea party.

More than 40 women veterans, representing Army, Navy, Air Force and the Marine Corps, stand as members of Chapter 68. Women of all Armed Services are eligible to join as associate members.

• 12 members have been inducted to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (an additional six inductees are now deceased)
• 1 member served in WWII with the 6888th Postal Battalion, the “Six-Triple-Eight,” the only all-female all-black detachment deployed to Europe
• 1 member serve during the Korean era conflict
• 2 members served boots-on-the-ground in Vietnam
• our members have also served in Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan

Chapter 68 sponsors the only all-female Color Guard in Arizona, which performs at Memorial Day and as requested at other events honoring veterans. Since last year, individual members reported 7,819 volunteer hours and $50,814 in contributions to benefit our community.

Since 1946, WACVA-AWU has promoted the welfare of women who served honorably in any branch of the Army: U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. With members who have served our country since World War II, WACVA-AWU is the only female veterans service organization that has been federally chartered and women veterans gather in 16 chapters located around the nation. Nearly 900 women veterans are members.

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