Sixteen women veterans attend Idaho Post 143’s first two Women Veterans Meetups.

While serving in the U.S. Navy, Renel Duvall wanted to create a support group for fellow women in the military. But time didn’t allow it. But now that she is retired, her membership in American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls, Idaho, has given her that opportunity. 

On Jan. 28, Duvall – who served in the Navy and Navy Reserve from 1990 to 2014 – launched the first two sessions of her Women Veterans Meetup. The sessions are open to women veterans, as well as those still serving on active duty or in the reserves. Sixteen women attended the first two sessions – one in the morning and another in the evening. The hope is to schedule future sessions for the third Wednesday of each month.

“Everyone is very excited to get involved,” said Duvall, who serves on the post’s Outreach Team. “And it was amazing hearing the stories of the older women and their experiences. The sad part is we are still going through it: not being noticed for our service. But this will change.”

Duvall said the group was something she’s been wanting to put together for a while. 

“I’ve been wanting to do this since I was stationed in San Diego. But when you’re working and have kids and everything, you just don’t have the time to do it. But now that I’m here and retired, I joined The American Legion and (post leadership) asked if I wanted to start a women’s group. And I said, ‘Yes, I’ve been wanting to.’ So it was perfect timing.”

Duvall said like other women veterans, it’s often assumed that she didn’t serve in the military. “That is the total reason why I wanted to start this group,” she said. “I’m tired of standing there with my husband without even being acknowledged, still to this day. That’s what women go through, and that’s what I am tired of. And I think that’s why women don’t stand up when it’s Veterans Day and they say, ‘Stand up if you served.’”

Duvall said another reason she was sometimes quiet about her military service was that she never deployed to a war zone. “I never felt like I should say anything,” she said. “And an Army officer today said the same thing. But we served, giving our time.”

The goal for the group is not just to impact those who attend the sessions, but also for those who hear about them.

“I’m hoping that (male veterans) will see all of the women who actually serve in the military,” Duvall said. “A lot of us are doing the same jobs and have the same experiences as the men do.”

She also hopes the sessions will lead to the participants being recognized for their service both in the military and in the Legion by those around them. “I want us to do community service,” Duvall said. “I want us to help our community. Women aren’t recognized, and I want us to get the same respect that men get for serving in the military. But I know that we have to make the effort.”

Department of Idaho Commander Dee Sasse, who spent 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, was able to attend Wednesday’s evening session. She said she can relate to what Duvall is trying to do. Recently, when out with her boyfriend, he was asked if he served in the military, while the question was never posed to her.

“We need to let the younger generation (of women veterans) know that they should be proud to serve and join the military,” Sasse said. “We’re all veterans. Character and honor outweigh how I put my boots on.”