A Historic Flight for Florida’s Women Veterans

wcstour
Mar 13
2 min read

Thanks to the extraordinary fundraising efforts of many members of the Florida General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and the inspiring vision of Florida President Sara Dessureau, an incredible dream became reality. Yesterday, 121 women veterans from across Florida were honored for their service on a once-in-a-lifetime Flight of Honor to Washington, D.C.

We are very proud that three veterans from our own GFWC Woman’s Club of Stuart: Navy Nurse Ann Arner, Army Nurse Joanne Greenfield, and Navy veteran Dr. Penny C. Lane were among those honored. Two of our members, Cecilia Lewis and Marene Pilkington, accompanied them as chaperones.

The group represented multiple branches of the military—Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines—and even included one woman who served in the Royal Navy. Each veteran brought her own story of dedication, courage, and commitment to country, community, and family.

During the trip, they visited several iconic monuments and memorials, including the deeply moving Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Throughout the day, the women were greeted with heartfelt appreciation. Crowds cheered, applauded, and thanked them for their service. One especially memorable moment came when the Fire Department honored the veterans with a celebratory water cannon salute—a powerful tribute to their bravery and sacrifice.

The homecoming was just as special. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Paula Rosen, Martha Howell, Jo Baxter, and Ronda D’Antonio, who traveled several hours to welcome home our lady veterans. With bright smiles, patriotic signs, and plenty of red, white, and blue, they ensured the women received the warm celebration they deserved.

The story isn’t over yet. Be sure to keep an eye out for a documentary about this remarkable journey, which will be released in the near future.