In honor of Veterans Day in the United States
Published
Army Veteran & RHS Queen Linda Gill.
Navy Veteran & RHS Queen Tracy Schlaud
Veteran and RHS Queen Julie Sieker with Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper.
In honor of Veterans Day in the United States, we’re revisiting a special moment from three years ago, highlighting the remarkable women veterans in the Red Hat Society. Though this video was first shared in 2021, the message of pride and sisterhood resonates just as strongly today.
We are proud to count many veterans among our ranks—women who have served their country with honor and now find camaraderie in our vibrant sisterhood. Recognizing each other as veterans hasn’t always been easy. Army veteran & RHS Queen Linda Gill realized this need and was inspired to create the "Sisters of the Sword," a symbol that unites and honors our Red Hat veterans. "None of us have rank anymore," Gill explains, "so we needed something that says we’re sisters."
At a Red Hat convention, fellow veteran & RHS Queen Julie Sieker recalls a powerful moment when women began standing up, one by one, to announce they were veterans. That moment empowered women like Navy veteran & RHS Queen Tracy Schlaud to proudly embrace her service. “Whether you served for a day or you served for twenty years, stand up,” Schlaud says, reminding us of the importance of honoring every veteran's contributions.
As more women veterans emerge, we are reminded that their contributions deserve to be recognized and celebrated. The Red Hat Society proudly salutes our veteran sisters—trailblazers who stand tall, both in service to their country and within our community.