NEWS RELEASE
West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
Release date: April 17, 2024
Contact: Daryle Bayless (office, 304-558-3661; cell 304-982-4204)
Governor Justice Announce Women Veterans Program to be Led by Former Prisoner of War, Jessica Lynch
Charleston, WV – Governor Jim Justice announced the creation of the Woman Veterans Program to address the unique challenges female veterans face after they transition to civilian life.
The experience of women and men in military service can be substantially different. Women veterans experience a higher level of military sexual trauma (MST) while in service than men while serving in similar capacities. The Woman Veterans Program will seek out women veterans who may have experienced MST or other traumatic conditions in service that make them reluctant to file for the benefits they have earned and connect them to those benefits.
“This is a lady with grit beyond belief,” said Governor Justice. “Look up Jessica Lynch and you’ll see a superstar.”
The program will be administered by the Department of Veterans Assistance.
U.S. Army veteran and former Prisoner of War, Jessica Lynch, will serve as the program’s director. Lynch was severley injured when her convoy was ambushed while on deployment in Iraq in 2003. She spent nine days in captivity before being rescued by U.S. special forces.
“You [Jessica] stepped up for the nation beyond belief. But now you’re stepping up for West Virginia again. And you’re stepping up for our women veterans,” said Justice
The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance also operates the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, the West Virginia Veterans Home, in Barboursville and the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Institute.