“I Am Not Invisible” - The Women Veterans of the Marion VA Health Care System
This display at the Marion and Evansville Health Care Center locations, highlight just how many women served alongside their male counterparts for their country, while also showing the different ways they continue to serve alongside them now.
“Being on the wall is the VA's way of saying, I see you, and I want everybody else to see you too!” – Patricia McPhail, Navy Veteran
A large, brightly lit, photo display lines the high ceiling wall of the back hallway at the Marion VA Health Care Center’s main facility. The wall display is lined with 16 picturesque, black and white, portrait photos of women Veterans that are currently working for the Marion VA.
They served in the Military, and now they serve their fellow Veterans providing health care or working in supportive roles.
Krista Elliott, Navy Veteran, says that “it’s important for people to realize just how many women at the VA have served. I love the reactions I get when people know I served, and I feel like it makes them more at ease (at times) when I'm providing patient care.”
This local wall is part of a national movement created by the Center for Women Veterans.
The Center for Women Veterans created The I Am Not Invisible (IANI) campaign to increase visibility of women Veterans, who are often invisible both as Service members and Veterans.
Another Veteran represented on the wall, Tobi Cunningham, has this to share about what this wall display means to her: “The wall makes me proud to be part of a strong community of women who are here helping our past, present, and future veterans every day!!! I smile every time I walk by it and am very grateful to be in such great company of so many strong women veterans!!!!”
The campaign aims to increase awareness and dialogue about women Veterans and open viewers’ eyes to the myriad contributions, needs, and experiences of women who have served in the military.
Liz Vertin, the Campaign Organizer/Planner, and Navy Veteran said that her “goal in bringing this campaign to the Marion HCS was to shine a light on the women veterans that we work with every day. I want the Veterans who get their care with us to see their Provider, their neighbor, the Lab technician drawing his blood to the lady who checks him in for his appointment and realize that she and him are brothers and sisters in arms. I wanted the women who didn’t recognize themselves as a Veteran to feel proud of the service they gave.
As of January 6th, 2023, our Evansville Health Care Center location has finalized their version of the wall, highlighting the women Veterans at their local clinic. It can be viewed in the Physical Therapy/Prosthetics Hallway, on the 1st floor, Area F.
Another Veteran represented on the wall display, Patricia McPhail says that “being displayed on the wall shows equality. Being on the wall symbolizes that the VA acknowledges me, and is respectful me, proud of me. Being on that wall tells all the women rather a Veteran or not...I represent you. When I made the wall I felt like a celebrity for the VA, Women, and Veterans. Being on the wall shared my story...Being on the wall is an honor!!!
VA strives to create a safe and welcoming environment for our women Veterans.
For generations, women have answered the call to serve in the U.S. military with courage, loyalty and pride. Women served in combat, disguised as men during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and many women also served in critical roles as nurses and spies. Today, women serve as pilots, commanders, doctors, munitions specialists and more, and continue to make vital contributions to our country.
Yet too often, that service has gone unrecognized. Throughout history, America’s women Veterans have been marginalized, harassed, and perceived as invisible. Many women Veterans feel isolated and feel like the public discounts their military experience as less challenging or less valid than that of male Veterans. Only 37% of the 256 women Veterans who participated in a survey by nonprofit The Mission Continues said they felt "recognized, respected, and valued."