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Views & Voices

May 2013 V&V

Women At War Edition
May V&V publishes April 24

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR...

   I’ve always loved old war movies like “So Proudly We Hail!” “With a Song in My Heart,” “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Since You Went Away.” What I love about them is watching how World War II affected women and their relationships at home and abroad.
   In the first, the actresses, led by Claudette Colbert, play nurses in the South Pacific. In the second, Susan Hayward portrays a singer who survives a plane crash and struggles to recuperate to perform for the troops. Her medley of patriotic songs at the end of the movie always gives me chills.
   The other two movies show how the war affected women left at home trying to carve out a life for themselves when the world wasn’t the same anymore.
   So many women we feature this month lived those stories without the Hollywood polish. Peg Campbell (p. 60) was left at home, lonely without her husband, so she decided to join the Army. Others, like Vienna Steving (p. 34) and Janet Epsey (p. 40), followed their brothers’ leads and joined up.
   During World War II, joining the military was usually a temporary assignment for women, and afterward they returned home to civilian life. They worked in factories or became mothers while their husbands worked in the steel mills.
   In subsequent wars, many of the women we feature this month made careers out of their service. Lisa Marcucci (p. 30) said joining the Air Force defined the rest of her life. Cover story and best friends Christine Wilson and Jessica Favorite (p. 58) dreamed of joining the Air Force together after their high school graduation, but Christine’s time didn’t come for another decade. Dawnle Scheetz (p. 42) also made a career out of the Army and highly recommends it.
   Of course, there are always risks involved in the armed forces. Amanda Morrow and Tim Toney (p. 24) explain how militarization affects soldiers’ families at home. Marissa Penney (p. 28) shared how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has affected her since returning from Afghanistan and how a service dog helps her function in day-to-day life. She showed true courage by sharing her struggles in hopes she can help other veterans.
   With all of these amazing stories, working on this issue was humbling, especially in the moment when World War II veteran Bert Heckman (p.26) thanked photographer Nicole Cassano and me for our interest. She told us she hadn’t shared the story of her war days in a very long time.
   We’re here for just that purpose, to share these stories with you every month, and it’s always our honor to do so.
   One final story I especially enjoyed sharing this month in honor of Mother’s Day was Jacqueline McCullough’s (p. 54). Jacqueline and her husband, Jared, along with their daughter, Izzabelle, are this year’s March of Dimes ambassador family. Izzabelle was born at 6 months and had to stay in the hospital for three months but today is as happy and healthy as can be. They’ll share their story at the March for Babies walk in Hermitage on May 5 to support this good cause that helped them through their ordeal.
   I also want to note May is our anniversary issue here at Views & Voices. We started as a quarterly publication in May 2005 and have grown to double the size with issues coming to your door every month. Thank you always to our readers and advertisers for your support and positive responses each and every month without fail.

-- Lauren Mylo
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