Women of honor tell their stories
On Sunday -- Nov. 11 -- the nation celebrates Veterans Day. It is meant to be a day to honor and salute those who have served their country. It is in that same vein that the League of Women Voters/Palatine Area gathered at the Chandler's Banquets in Schaumburg Saturday.
"The idea behind our 'Honoring Women in the Military Luncheon' was to lift up and pay tribute to those who have given service to our country," said Lynn Rymarz, who co-chaired the event with Rosemary Shellander. "We also wanted to be part of Veterans Day."
Over 50 people attended the event; many moved to action after listening to Pat McCoy of the Yellow Ribbon Support Group speak of sending supplies to the troops. Others were mesmerized by the guest speakers.
"The speakers were chosen because I couldn't believe their strength and how they conquered such odds as helping those in Iraq, serving in World War II, and being women negotiating a normally man's world," said Rymarz. "Their stories were inspirational."
The speakers Rymarz is referring to included Opal Waldman of Streamwood, who served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II; Jodi Gaski of Palatine, a nurse whose son is serving in Iraq, and Meg Macdonald of Lake Bluff, one of the Navy's first women assigned to a ship.
"People were enthralled listening and learning from Opal," said Rymarz. "Meg spoke of the calmness of the water and the beauty of the sky keeping her positive through everyday mundane duties aboard ship. And the audience was moved by the sense of the letters Jodi read from nurses in Iraq. They all put faces to a soldier's story."
The League of Women Voters/Palatine Area, established in 1958 and serving the communities of Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg.
Meg Macdonald
"She was one of the first women assigned to be on a ship," Rymarz said. "Envisioning a woman on a ship in the Navy, I thought, 'Wow, how could I do that?' I'm impressed that she could go out to sea and serve that way."
Serve she did, in 1980 aboard the USS Ajax repair ship. What trials she may have faced as a female sailor is something Macdonald chooses not to dwell on. Instead, she focuses on the experience itself.
"I enjoyed going out to sea and traveling with the ship and being in different locations," said the Lake Bluff resident, who joined the Navy at the age of 27 in 1979. "I am proud that I was one of the first women shipboard."
Macdonald acted as a dispensing officer on the Ajax, in charge of food service, the ship's store, and other general support services. She handled financial matters, personnel pay, warehousing, contracts and logistics. Once her duty ended aboard the USS Ajax, she served in similar capacities at bases.
"One thing I really enjoyed was working on setting up a new base," Macdonald said. "I had to furnish all the buildings. I spent over $6 million in about two years."
The Lake Bluff resident found her father, who served in the Navy in World War II, to be a role model. However, neither that, nor her two brothers' service in the Navy, was the impetus for her own military career. Instead, Macdonald took on the position strictly as employment when she first started. However, through the years she found many rewards.
"I think the experience allowed me to meet a lot of people I would not have met in the course of any other lifestyle," she said. "It broadened my view on society."
Macdonald retired from the U.S. Navy in 1996 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Supply Corps, after serving for 17 years. She works at a nature center. She is also a member of the North Shore, and Legacy Storytelling Guilds.
Jodi Gaski
Advocate Lutheran General nurse Jodi Gaski is not a veteran, nor has she served directly in the military. However, indirectly, she has become somewhat of a soldier by taking up the military's cause from the home shores.
"She saw a need and took it upon herself to send boxes to nurses in Iraq," Rymarz said.
Gaski efforts, officially known as "Operation Good Morning Box," sparked as an idea after sending care packages to her own son, Steven, who is serving in Iraq.
"I thought it would be a good idea to reach out to the nurses that were deployed, too," said Gaski, who then inspired co-workers and other organizations to rally around her battle plan. "It was something I could do to let nurses know we support them back home."
With a donation of $200 from the Northwest suburban chapter of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Gaski put together boxes filled with cookies, skin cream, and other goodies. As more donations poured in, Gaski sent specific items based on the input she received from Maj. Mary-Ellen Ouellette in Iraq.
"She gave us an idea of what they wanted and needed," said Gaski. "Sometimes the nurses had to skip meals, so I sent protein bars. Sometimes they had to drink out of Foley catheters when they were in surgery in 90 degree heat, so I sent straws."
To date, Gaski's major mailing has been 400 sheets. After hearing that the nurses were using their scrubs for bedding, and that some sheets were too bloodied from injuries to reuse, Gaski got on the case.
"These nurses really deserve to be honored and appreciated," said Gaski, "because they are heroes giving the best care in the worst situations."
On the home front, Gaski's nurturing nature surfaces in other arenas. In 2007, she joined the Palatine Medical Reserve Corps, which is part of the Community Emergency Response Team in Palatine.
Opal Waldman
"Opal is very intriguing," said Rymarz. "The fact that she was only 22 and served in the Army is amazing and it is interesting to hear about that time in history from her."
Waldman not only talks of history, she made it. She was one of a small percentage of women who joined the military in 1945, when she became part of the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She also made history when she became the first female inducted into the Hanover Township Veterans Honor Roll.
"I'm very proud they think someone like me should be honored," Waldman said.
Waldman first approached the Navy to do her patriotic duty. However, when they rejected her -- "They felt my buck teeth didn't fit with the type of nice ladies they were looking for" -- she went right over and joined the Army.
"I wanted to serve my country," said Waldman, who is part of a strong military family that includes service by her father, brothers, son, and granddaughter. "Plus, I wasn't going to let my brothers outdo me. I had to do something, too."
Before serving at the Presidio in San Francisco, Waldman worked as a medical supply clerk at a veterans paraplegic hospital in Walla, Walla, Washington.
"I'll never forget one boy from Chicago," said Waldman. "He was seriously wounded and was in a wheelchair. His face was torn apart, but he was the nicest man I've ever met. He taught me that no matter what their condition, those boys fighting for their country knew they accomplished what they went there for."
Waldman served from 1945 to 1946 (18 months) before receiving an honorable discharge because she married, which was not allowed for female service personnel at the time.
Since retiring from her job 23 years ago, the Streamwood resident is still giving back. The 84-year-old volunteers at a golf league, and the food pantry at her church.
"She continues to do honorable service by volunteering for the Hanover Township Senior Services," Rymarz said. "She's truly wonderful."
Operation Good Morning Box
Started: April 2007 by Advocate Lutheran General nurse Jodi Gaski
Quote: "When the nurses get these packages and know that someone is thinking about them and supporting them, they have a good morning," said Gaski.
To date: $2,000 in donations paid for 90 boxes of supplies including food, toiletries and sheets.
Contact: www.nwscc.org, and click on "Support a nurse in uniform."
Yellow Ribbon Support Group
Started: Four years ago by Palatine's Pat and Mac McCoy; about 30 volunteers help
Purpose: To send care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
Supplies: Toiletries, snacks, literature, playing cards and the ever-popular beef jerky, are received from local churches, schools and other community groups.
To date: Sent 8,578 boxes
To donate: Call (847) 359-2429 or visit www.yellowribbonSG.org