Salute to service: Honoring Holiday Retirement’s female veterans 

Every November, Americans take the time to honor the veterans who have served our country. Many Holiday Retirement residents and team members are proud veterans, and we’re grateful to each and every one of them for their service.

With that in mind, we wanted to take a few moments to highlight some of the female veterans who live at Holiday Retirement communities around the country.

Janet Jones

Janet Jones, now 93, lives at Holiday Retirement’s Haywood Estates. She spent two years in the U.S. Army, where she served as a lab technician. Janet did not have a college education to prepare her for the role, as many lab techs do; but as she put it, what is said is what goes in the army, so when Janet was told she was to be a lab tech, that’s what she became.

Frances Crosby

Frances Crosby of Holiday Retirement’s Creekside Terrace had a different path to service. The now 81-year-old enrolled at Winston-Salem State University as a 29-year-old mom with three kids. By the time she graduated four years later, she had a fourth child. Frances went on to teach practical nursing before later attending graduate school and obtaining her master’s degree. She spent five years working at Winston Salem-State University before speaking to a recruiter and ultimately joining the army. Frances served in the military for 15 years, working as a psychiatric nurse and obtaining the rank of lieutenant colonel, by the time she exited the service.

Kay Bakken, June Lazik and Velma Williams

Holiday Retirement’s Willow Gardens is home to women from multiple branches of the military. Kay Bakken, 79, served as a teletype operator in the Army, 82-year-old June Lazik served as a base supply inventory specialist in the Air Force and 94-year-old Velma Williams served in the Navy as a member of the nurse corps.

Bettie Weir

Bettie Weir, 83, of Holiday Retirement’s Prairie Rose also served in the Navy. As a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during World War II, Bettie was assigned to clerical duties at the Boston receiving station.

We’d like to take a moment to thank these incredible women, and the many others who live in our communities, for their dedicated service to our nation. We’re proud to call you part of our family.

At Holiday Retirement, we’re committed to honoring our veterans. Every community has a Wall of Honor, many of which feature custom art. Get in touch today to learn more about life at Holiday.