Please read about this salute to our wounded female veterans, "Ms Veteran America: Healing in heels" (http://america.aljazeera.com/...). The competition was started last year to raise money for Final Salute, an organization that offers shelter to homeless female veterans in Ohio and Virginia. Jaspen Boothe, its founder, says the competition aims to celebrate women's more traditional roles — as mothers, wives and daughters — that remain camouflaged behind military uniforms.
"...Some of the participants, like last year's queen, Denyse Gordon — who has since become an advocate against military sexual assault — said they initially scoffed upon receiving emailed invitations to the event. But, they said, it's not a traditional pageant so much as a chance to raise awareness about the challenges many female veterans face. The participants at last weekend's contest raised their voices about the troubles plaguing many women as they serve in and after they return from the military — homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sexual assault..."
We demand so much of our military and return so little to them once their hearts, minds and bodies are used up. This pageant deserves as much recognition as the valiant Ranger receiving his Purple Heart medal.