Bay Pines VA honors women Veterans with recognition wall

Bay Pines VA has spent the last nine months raising awareness of women Veterans as part of VA’s year-long celebration of 100 years of health care to women.

On Sept. 14, we dedicated the first of nine planned Women Veteran Wall displays at C.W. Bill Young VA. In the following weeks, the displays will be unveiled at the Lee County Healthcare Center and the health care system’s seven VA Clinics.

“In our 90th year, we are honoring a legacy of service, and we cannot think of a better way to reflect that message than the establishment of a Women Veteran Wall during VA’s centennial celebration of service to women Veterans,” said Bay Pines VA Director Paul M. Russo.

The four-foot by six-foot maple spectrum display spotlights six photo frames and a frosted acrylic panel collage of key words and phrases from them. As part of the display, each Veteran is featured with her branch of service, rank, photo and a bio detailing her service, deployments, accomplishments and where she currently serves Veterans across the health care system.

The inaugural class of honorees were selected from women Veterans who serve as nurses across Bay Pines VA. The fall 2023 class of women Veterans are:

• Kathleen Boykin, corporal, Marine Corps
• Lourdes Cruz, major, Air Force
• Shelley Eversole, lieutenant colonel, Air Force
• Priscilla Head, captain, Army
• Melissa McAfee, petty officer third class, Navy
• Lynn McKinney-Wilson, major, Army

“These women remain dedicated to serving Veterans.”

“We chose the nursing service as the spotlight for the inaugural class because, throughout history, whether on the battlefield or as part of Bay Pines VA, nurses have been the foundation for the timely and effective delivery of quality health care,” added Bay Pines VA Associate Director for Patient Care Services Carrie Hawkins. “These six women remain dedicated to serving fellow Veterans and embody VA’s Core Values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence.”

Bay Pines VA announced plans to update the wall every six months, with the next class of honorees slotted for March, as part of Women’s History Month.

Each honoree class will have a universal connection. While the inaugural class highlights women Veterans who are nurses at Bay Pines VA, the spring class will feature women Veterans who are not employees.

Details on the spring focus for the second class of women Veteran honorees is planned for December 2023.

Nearly 11,000 women Veterans are registered as part of Bay Pines VA’s Women Veteran Program.