What Does A Veteran Look Like To You?
PHOENIX - The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services teamed up with the Phoenix Mercury for their Hoops for Heroes night on July 1st to honor local women Veterans.
ADVS invited women Veterans that work for the agency and across the valley to attend the game against the Minnesota Lynx.
Central Arizona Outreach Coordinator Dana West and Veteran Benefits Counselor Danielle Sutherland hosted an ADVS table to make connections with Veterans and service members during the game.
“Having a table and being able to speak to Veterans in a space where they were comfortable was hugely helpful,” West explained. “From a logistics standpoint it was nice to be the only resource available, because the Veterans we spoke with were in no way overwhelmed by the amount of information they received.”
In addition to the ADVS table, the agency also produced a 30-second PSA video “What does a Veteran look like to you?”, showcasing several women Veterans that was played during halftime. West, who served in the Army, helped to find fellow Veterans to be in the video.
“It's beautiful and the way I feel every time I watch it (PSA). If just the women in the video feel the same way we have made such a huge difference their lives, but I know women that weren't in it feel the same, overwhelmed and proud,” West said. “Women serve, and then continue to serve and go on to do so much for everyone around them.”