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‘Walk a Mile in Her Boots’ lives on of distributing decorated boots to businesses throughout McHenry County. In addition, local businesses will offer a special insert that highlights 12 local women veterans and shares their stories of serving their country and communities. Donations will be col-
By SUE DOBBE-LEAHY For Shaw Media
What started as a one-day event to honor women veterans has transformed into a multi-faceted, lasting art installation and reminder that women in uniform deserve recognition. In August, a group met at Veterans R&R Operation Wild Horse in Bull Valley to quite literally walk in the footsteps – or bootsteps – of local women veterans. Fifty veteran women were asked to decorate a pair of their military boots, and the boots lined a walking path that event-goers were encouraged to traverse. Col. Patty Klop spoke at the event about her personal experiences in the military, her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and her recent recovery after years of suffering from the disorder. Now, those boots can be seen in various McHenry County businesses to honor and recognize women veterans not just for Veterans Day, but for the entire month of November. The Walk a Mile in Her Boots event, and its subsequent shift into an art installation, was a collaborative effort of veteran organizations led by William Chandler Peterson American Legion Post 171 in Crystal Lake. But the push to recognize women veterans specifically has been a yearlong challenge that Post 171 has undertaken after hearing the staggering statistics of veteran suicide risks. “Our emphasis on women veterans came about when we learned that women veterans are 250 percent more likely to attempt and die from suicide than women who did not serve in the
lected to support services to prevent suicide and address PTSD. Women veterans are less likely to participate in veteran programs and groups as many are male dominated,
See BOOTS, page 14
Bob Dorn, senior vice commander of Post 171 military,” said Bob Dorn, senior vice commander of Post 171. That statistic, coupled with this year’s National American Legion program titled “Be the One,” which emphasizes being present and ready to act when a veteran is at risk for suicide, galvanized the Crystal Lake legion into action. Its annual Vets 4 Veterans’ & Blue Families in June had a decided focus on women veterans and featured a special tent that allowed females to share conversations. This month, Dorn and his members partnered with VFW Post 4600 McHenry, VFW Post 12014 Crystal Lake, American Legion Post 491 McHenry, PLAV Post 188 McHenry, and Rush Hospital’s Road Home Program to continue the Walk a Mile in Her Boots program. Each organization shared in the task
RANDY FUNK President of the
Crystal Lake Union Cemetery proudly supports our local area Veterans and thanks all the men and women who have served this fine country!
THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS! Office is open by appointment only 8012 Ridgefield Rd PO Box 464 Crystal Lake IL 60039 | www.crystallakecemetery.com
NORTHWEST HERALD Northwest Herald / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 11, 2022
A SALUTE TO VETERANS