Honoring Women Veterans in the Elevator Trade

Today is Women Veterans Recognition Day. Held on June 12 of each year, this day honors the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which gave women the opportunity to serve in the United States armed forces. Prior to President Harry S. Truman signing the Act in 1948, the only women allowed to serve in the regular and reserve forces of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps during peacetime were nurses. While women were permitted – and even encouraged – to serve their country during times of war, they were sent home when the war was done.

While on assignment for a story on the recently launched IUEC Veterans Assistance Program (VAP), we had a chance to visit with Phyllis Wilson, retired Army Veteran and president of the Military Women’s Memorial. She spoke with us about the Military Women’s Memorial Register, which aims to collect stories of all women who have served in the United States military, past and present.

“The center, the heart and soul of the Military Women’s Memorial is what we call the register,” she told us. “It is our national repository, the database that holds over 311,000 women’s stories. We’re on a mission to help America know about what these incredible women have done for well over 100 years. We’re looking to collect every one of them, and we encourage you, whether you’re a man or a woman. If you know a woman that has served or is serving, past or present, living or deceased, we want their stories in here.”

Many International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) members come from military backgrounds. It’s a natural fit – while serving, many build mechanical, electrical, or technology-based skill sets that they can later use in careers in the building trades. Through programs like Helmets to Hardhats, the IUEC has provided pathways to careers in the elevator industry for many servicemembers transitioning back to civilian life.

Shaunelle Sandy, an IUEC Local 10 elevator constructor who recently passed her mechanic exam and achieved journeyman status (congratulations!), is Veteran of the U.S. Air Force who was introduced to the elevator trade through Helmets to Hardhats. She talked about the similarities between the support of a brotherhood/sisterhood of a union and that found in the military. “With unions, they have your back. You’re not out there on your own,” she said.

Another Local 10 member who came into the elevator trade through Helmets to Hardhats is U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Kristen Hernandez. “I was in the United States Marine Corps 2000 to 2006. Motor T, 35 -31…my MOS was 6672 aviation supply. We supplied aircraft parts for all the squadrons on the base.”

“The skill sets that the military gives us are some of the things that we take for granted during our time in the military, leadership, teamwork, the ability to coalesce around a team and know that what you’re doing is incredibly important, not for yourself, but for the team,” said Phyllis Wilson.

Shaunelle and Kristen, along with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Bon Sampson, also out of IUEC Local 10, joined us on our trip to the Military Women’s Memorial. They had the chance to tour the museum at Arlington National Cemetery that featured information and artifacts related to military womens’ experiences through the years.

“Seeing these pictures on the wall definitely brings back memories of boot camp or being out in the fields or in the fleet,” said Kristin. “You remember your moments through their pictures.”

“It gave me chills just seeing and reading everything that all these women put forth for us and now they have their own place, their own home,” said Bon.

Along with Jason, Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund National Coordinator Ryan Donnell, Local 21 member and spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran and IUEC IT Director Gil Duncan, U.S. Navy Veteran, are the lead officers for the IUEC Veterans Assistance Program (VAP). The IUEC VAP helps members and their spouses navigate the process of applying for education, disability, and other benefits they earned through their military service. Joined by Ben Valinsky, the program’s contact for educational benefits through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), they will be visiting IUEC Locals across the United States in the coming months.

“We are looking to help Veterans in all aspects of their needs. A lot of Veterans don’t understand there are benefits that are available to them. Our plan is to get the word out and let Veterans know we’re going to be a resource for them if they have a need that’s related to their military service. And we just want to be that community they can go to to seek assistance,” said Jason Gray, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, IUEC National Organizer, and member of IUEC Local 32 in the Atlanta, Georgia area.Phyllis Wilson described the program as value added for the military Veterans working in the elevator trade. “You’ve earned those benefits. Let them help you file those claims and then get that education piece that you so richly deserve.”

She encouraged every IUEC member or spouse who is a woman who served in the military or any man or woman who wants to share the story of a woman Veteran’s service to visit the register and create an account.

“There’s over three million of us that have served. That means 10 % are in and 90% or 2.7 million are not in this story. And we can’t tell that your story if we don’t have it. So unless you put your story in here and tell us your memorable experiences of your time in service and share a photo – where did you serve? When did you serve? What branch of service were you in? It’s super easy, free and online.” Phyllis continued.

“I’m confident I would have been a better soldier had I known the sacrifices that women had done generations prior to me, but it was never taught.”

To add your story or another woman’s story to the Military Women’s Memorial register, visit https://womensmemorial.org/make-herstory/

To learn more about the IUEC Veterans Assistance Program and how this program helps members and their spouses access the benefits they earned through their military service, visit https://www.iuec.org/index.php/veterans-assistance-program/