Protect The Game

Today is Women Veterans Recognition Day.

From serving in disguise to leading at the highest levels, women have always answered the call to serve. Let us recognize the generations of women whose courage, skill and sacrifice helped shape our nation’s military history.

During the Revolutionary War, women served as nurses, cooks, messengers and spies—and some entered battle disguised as men. One of those who later broke an extraordinary barrier was Cathay Williams, the first documented Black woman to enlist in the U.S. Army and the only known female Buffalo Soldier. Serving under the name William Cathay in 1866, she did what women were not officially permitted to do. Her last known home was in Trinidad, Colorado.

During World War II, hundreds of thousands of women served through organizations such as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, later the Women’s Army Corps, and the Navy’s WAVES. They worked in communications, intelligence, medicine, aviation, administration and countless other positions essential to the war effort.

A major turning point came in 1948, when the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act allowed women to serve as permanent members of the Armed Forces. Even then, their numbers, promotions and assignments remained restricted. Those barriers continued to fall over the following decades, with all military occupations officially opened to women in 2015.

Here in Colorado, Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan continued that legacy of firsts. She became the Colorado National Guard’s first female general officer and, in 2020, the first woman to lead the Colorado National Guard.

Following the opening of infantry positions to women, 2nd Lt. Wednesday Nelson became the Colorado Army National Guard’s first female infantry officer—another important milestone in the long journey toward full military integration.

From the WAACs and WAVES to the women serving in infantry, aviation, medicine, special operations, command and every field today, women have served with courage and distinction—even when their contributions were overlooked or their opportunities limited.

Veterans Life Magazine has been privileged to share the stories of women veterans in our past issues. We invite you to explore those issues at veteranslifemagazine.com and learn more about the women whose service, leadership and lives continue to inspire us.

Today, we honor all women veterans: those who opened doors, those who walked through them and those who continue creating opportunities for the generations who will follow.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

As our partner Battlefields to Ballfields says……

Purpose isn’t always found in big moments, it’s built over time.

Every game you show up to, every call you make, every decision under pressure… it all adds up.

That consistency, that commitment: that’s where growth happens.

And before you know it, you’re not just part of the game… you’re making an impact far beyond it.

Honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We ❤️🤍💙 you Veterans Life Magazine and appreciate the incredible pictures and stories you bring forth…..thank you.

As we head into Memorial Day, it’s a time to pause, reflect, remember and honor the men and women who never made it home—those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces, whether during wartime, training, or deployments abroad.

But remembrance shouldn’t be limited to just one day.

Marine Corps veteran Rodger Asai found a powerful way to memorialize those who lost their lives. What started as grief—and a question of how to truly remember—became something deeply tangible. He created a "TAPS-a-stree" rug.

The rugs are incredibly powerful—and truly beautiful in a way that’s hard to put into words. Please take a moment to read his story and see the work for yourself:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/nlibz/jbcb/ =7

Our 501c3 organization, called Protect The Game will be running our fundraising golf ⛳️ tournament on August 15th at Highland Meadows Golf Course. We train and equip military ❤️🤍💙 veterans to become youth sports umpires/officials, and then put them to work.
Will you play in our tournament and support our biggest fundraiser of the year please?
Enter here, or become a hole sponsor ⬇️:
www.protectthegame.org
Jordan Cohen Jon Quick Alex Skandalis Rob Silverthorn Patty Seaser Andy Hansen Anne Tynan Pat Hansen Jason Nowak

Protect The Game | Military veterans sports officiating training Protect The Game: Nonprofit for veterans in sports officiating.

Such meaningful words shared here by the Potter Volunteer Fire Department……

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, we’d like to honor and remember the brave individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country. Your service and sacrifice provide us the freedoms we all enjoy in the greatest nation on earth … the “USA”.

Also, we would like to thank everyone who has served or is currently serving, as well as all first responders …. thank you!

Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend!!

Officiating offers more than just time on the field.

It’s a chance to:
✔ Earn extra income
✔ Stay active and engaged
✔ Be part of a team again
✔ Give back to your community

It’s not just a role, it’s a new chapter.