The Women Veterans Committee is made up of an amazing group of women.  Women who have served in the armed forces, women who have family members that have served and support them, business women, community leaders, and all of them patriots.

Mary Gillespie Slivka/Chair of the WVC Women Veterans Committee gillespie47@yahoo.com Mary served from 1965-1968 in the Navy. Boot Camp went to Bainbridge Maryland Oct 1965 Company 37. Went to Great Lakes from January 1966-April 1966. Maiden name Gillespie she served in the ER at St. Albans Naval Hospital as head Corpswave. Married, 3 wonderful children and two grandbabies. Mary lost her dear friend Mary (Nickie) Davis Stokesberry who was in both boot camp and corps school with her to cancer in 2007. Nickie was remembered in the Rose Petal Ceremony in November during Veterans Week here in Branson.

Barb Riggle Secretary/Treasurer babsriggle@suddenlink.net Barb is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant (MSGT) and served 25 years. She likes meeting all Veterans and helping get the word out about Women Veterans. Barb travels the Midwest on behalf of the WVC visiting other Women Veteran groups, and representing the committee.

Sheila Artt Chaplain Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Shelia has a great love for those serving in the military. Her father served in WWII as a Sgt. in the Army Infantry, and her husband with the USAF in the Vietnam War. His tour of duty came after their first two babies were born, and during his overseas duty, she had cancer and was fighting for her own life with an absent husband. Then, the following year, her brother, just 13-months younger than her, went to Vietnam as a reconnaissance paratrooper, and was killed just a month before he was due to return home. So, she has always been a strong "flag-waving American." Shelia currently serves as the Administrative Pastor for Cross Roads International Revival Center in Branson, and she and her husband have been in ministry for 36 years. She worked in marketing and sales for many years, hosted a radio program for the local Christian station, and have served on the boards of several Christian ministries in the region. Most recently, she has had the opportunity to minister in 13 nations, including Kenya, South Africa, China, and the British Isles. The Artts have been married for 40 years, and have 5 adult children and 7 grandchildren.

Dayle Goldsworthy Committee Member Dayle is one of the original beginners of this committee and a veteran of the US Navy. She is also an American Legion Member, St. Louis Women Chapter 404 and WAVES Life Member; Dayle is married to Tom Goldsworthy a Vietnam veteran and active member of the Branson Veterans Task Force.

Linda Ward Public Relations prpro@suddenlink.net Years ago when Linda Ward moved to Branson, she immersed herself in the local tourism environment and soon started her own public relations and marketing firm, PR Pro. Being heavily involved in the Branson community, she quickly fell in love with the veterans and what the Branson community does for and means to veterans and this country. She is honored to serve on the Women Veterans Committee and encourages every veteran to tell his or her story. "You made a lasting difference. Thank you," said Linda.

Sue Gordy Committee Vice Chair suegordy@interlinc.net Sue is a Navy retiree who joined the service in February 1972, and completed basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland. Sue served as a Storekeeper in the Norfolk, Virginia area for most of 10 years and also completed 1 year of service in Keflavik, Iceland. In 1982, Sue joined the Naval Reserve as an active duty Naval Reserve Recruiter serving in the Midwest until her retirement in 1994 as a Chief Storekeeper. Sue presently manages the Comfort Inn West, in Branson, Missouri. She is married to retired Boatswain Mate Senior Chief Bob Gordy and presently has a stepson serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.

LuAnn Row Committee Member luannrow@suddenlink.net LuAnn writes: I joined the US Navy WAVES in March of 1960. Went to boot camp in Bainbridge, MD then to Disbursing Clerk school in Newport, Rhode Island. The summer of 1960 was an exciting time in Newport and a wonderful way to spend my 18th year of life. The first big riot in the U.S. was in Newport at the Jazz Festival that summer.From Rhode Island, my first orders were to NAAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida where I worked with the disbursing office. I remember going out to the squadrons with the disbursing officer to pay the sailors in cash. My job was to review their "pay chit" to make sure they had filled it out correctly.I met my husband when he came to the disbursing office to pick up the checks for the men in his squadron who chose to be paid by check. Dwain and I were married in July of 1961 and I was honorably discharged in October of that year.I spent 20 years as a Navy wife before Dwain retired and then while he worked for a Government contractor, I went to work for Federal Civil Service for 25 years. Again I worked in a similar field as when I was a disbursing clerk. As a government contracting officer, I reviewed contractors reports, negotiations and payments

Stormy Snow Committee Member Stormysnow@aol.com Stormy is one of the original committee members who has been much of the creative "eye" of this committee. The President and owner of the "Presidents Museum" here in Branson, Stormy shares her creative talents and business knowledge with the committee on many levels. Her "bringing to life" such charachters of Dr. Mary Walker the first woman Congressional Medal of Honor Recepient and Martha Washington has entertained and educated many of the visitors who have come to Branson during Women Veterans Week. This Blue Star mom shines when it comes to helping veterans.

Brenda Owen Meadows Women Veterans Committee Brenda Owen Meadows is a former USO entertainer who spent six months in Vietnam in 1968 with The Sho-Lettes, the first racially mixed all-girl band to tour during the war. After she returned stateside, she became a Christian and enlisted in the U.S. Army where she trained as a medic and psychiatric technician. When she turned 40 years old, she not only hosted reunion shows with her former group throughout California and Nevada to raise money for the Women's Vietnam Memorial, she enlisted in the National Guard where she served as a photojournalist. She was later employed as a photojournalist, magazine and newspaper editor near Sacramento. Meadows and the Sho-Lettes returned to Vietnam with in 1995 to "bury some old bones" and create new memories. She continues to perform for veterans and at other patriotic events. Meadows and her husband Marshall, whom she met and married while stationed at Fort Ord in California, moved to Missouri from California. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Meadows is part-time marketing consultant for How Ya' Bean Coffee Company. She and her hubby recently opened Meadows Images, a photography business in Branson.

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