The Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Inc, honored six women veterans, earlier this month all of whom served in various capacities in the armed forces. The honorees were nominated as part of a Links program that spotlights African-American women members from all branches of the U.S. military.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 2-million women veterans across the United States. They represent more than 9 percent of all living veterans and are one of the fastest-growing segments of the veteran population. What often is overlooked is the role of African-Americans and especially African-American women who have served.
This year, Virginia celebrated its inaugural Virginia Women Veterans Week, March 18-24, to honor the service and sacrifice of the Commonwealth’s female veterans. The commemorative week occurs during Women’s History Month, an annual observance of the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
Roanoke Links recognized the following women veterans from the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas:
Kimberlyn Atherton-Jenkins, D.D.S.: Dr. Atherton-Jenkins, a dentist, served in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps. A captain, she provided dental treatment to active duty and retired military personnel. She received commendation for her service in the Gulf War from 1990-1993. Dr. Atherton-Jenkins’ current practice is New River Valley Dental in Blacksburg.
Tech Sgt. (Ret.) Yvette M. H. Barnes: TSgt. Barnes served in the U.S. Air Force from 1983-2003. She has received numerous military awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star; and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. She spent two years as a certified Police Support Technician with Roanoke City Police Department. She is currently employed in the Health Information Management Department at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Patricia Davis: Davis, who served in the U.S. Army, is the recipient of several military awards, including the Warrior Citizen Award; Operation Iraqi Freedom Award; Certificate of Achievement Award for Kaiserslautern, Germany; and the Army Achievement Medal Award. Currently, she is employed by Carilion Health System in the Vascular Department, Supplemental Healthcare and Maxim Healthcare.
Yzavia Haney: As a U.S. Army veteran, Haney received the Army Expert Marksmanship Badge Rifle and Grenade; Army Service Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medal. Among her many community service activities, Haney helps soldiers, veterans and civilians receive information and services that are available to them. She is a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Community Response Team.
Staff Sgt. Katrina Morris: Morris has been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for 15 years where she serves in the BCo 2nd of 3, 19th Division in Salem, VA. This unit trains up to 5,000 cadets each year in basic rifle marksmanship, machine guns, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and hand grenades. Morris, who also is part of the unit’s physical fitness team, has received four Army Achievement Medals and maintains a score of 290 and above on the Army physical fitness test (the maximum score is 300). She has been a Training Sergeant for Western Virginia Regional Jail for nine years.
Lorraine D. Simmons: Simmons, who is retired from the U.S. Army, entered basic training and OTC at Fort McClellan in Alabama. After training she went to Fort Huachuca, Arizona as a clerk with the Housing Authority for military servicemen coming from Vietnam. In 1973, she joined the staff at LewisGale Hospital in 1973 and later worked as a nursing assistant for the Geriatric Psychiatric Ward at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem. She joined the U.S. Army Reserves 80th Training Command as a weapons and medical instructor and has worked at Fort Lee (Virginia) in Supplies.
“We were extremely pleased to be able to honor these women who made many sacrifices to serve in the military,” said Connie Steele, president of the Roanoke Chapter of the Links, Inc. “We are so proud of them and countless others who have and continue to serve. This tribute was a small thank you to the women veterans who are sometimes overlooked.”
The Roanoke Chapter is one of 285 chapters of The Links, Inc. one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-Americans and other persons of African ancestry. Dr. Jennifer Alston is vice president.
