The Women Marines Association
Area 1 News
Submitted by Jamie DePaola
What a great time we had at the National Convention in Washington, D.C. to celebrate 100 years of women in the Corps! We had over 30 hard – charger Marines representing all six chapters from Area 1. Most were new to WMA so we arranged to sit together at the banquets and get to know one another as a team. It was a very unique and memorable opportunity, indeed. We also combined forces for a PX table and enjoyed more camaraderie.
Our oldest Marine attending was Katherine (Kay) Carpenter from MA (Korean War veteran). One item on her life’s bucket list was to attend the 8th & I Parade. She can now check that off, while rejoicing that Marines are, in fact, amphibious and can endure all types of weather. Even the Commandant was heard saying how resilient all the women Marines were when the rain began. He watched many other guests rapidly leave the event, and he was proud to see all the women Marines stood fast, just like we’ve been trained! We were all soaking wet, but very motivated!
The Area 1 Marine who traveled the farthest came from Nova Scotia, Canada. Lidwine Comeau served in the USMC from 1969-1972 and was stationed at Treasure Island, CA. It was such a pleasure to have her join us and get to know her. I’m very proud to say that one of our NH Marines, Brianna Renner, joined the convention team to teach Yoga classes for the attendees on Saturday and Sunday morning. We all have many gifts and talents to share with the WMA, and the real fun is unwrapping them and discovering how great our future can be with all of our new sister Marines!
Lastly, and very special to me, is the celebration of four new chapters in Area 1 who received their charter at the Recognition and Awards luncheon: RI-2 Cpl Holly Charette Chapter, NY-6 Cpl Ramona Valdez Chapter, NY-7 Long Island Chapter, and NY-8 Western New York Chapter. These, along with the other nine new chapters in the WMA, were honored and are now very excited and eager to begin their mission.
Quote of the Quarter: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Antoine De Saint Exupery
Jamie DePaola is the director of Area 1 of the Women Marines Association. Area one covers CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT, Europe, Middle East, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, Canada.
The Area 1 Facebook page covers all of the area events.