It’s an annual tradition. Every November, the Kingwood Area Republican Women (KARW) invite area veterans to lunch in honor of Veterans Day. Recently, a large group attended for a warm meal and lots of applause. As the group settled into dessert and coffee, three career officers, all women, shared the stories of their military service.
Heather Brodersen joined the Marine Corps at 17 and retired 30 years later. The child of a working family, she loved being in the service. Told she was not fit to serve with comments about dropping out, being a woman or ending up pregnant only made her more determined to succeed. Brodersen said she learned persistence, leadership and duty. “We never give up. We never quit. We are always faithful,” she said.