FEMVETS - BRIDGING THE GAP

Tessie Wilmot, United States Navy Veteran, PS2-E5 Tessie was raised by a single mother, of two children, with Tessie being the oldest, in Gretna, Louisiana (5 minutes away from New Orleans, Louisiana). Growing up in a mobile home park in a low-income family, Tessie graduated high school in 1998 and decided to enlist in the United States Navy at 17 years old. Her dream was to retire and make a better life for her and her mother. Little to her knowledge, she would meet a man that would change all of that. While being stationed in one of the most beautiful countries, Italy, she met a man name Kip, who later became her husband. Together, while serving in the Navy, they toured over 13 countries and met and became lifelong friends with many diverse people from different cultures. That’s what started her to be open minded about many things in life. In 2002, after eight years, her husband was honorably discharged from the Navy with higher tenure and they were transferred from Greece to Japan.

#22KILL – Veteran Advocates

Veteran Advocates aka “Battle Buddies” wear the #22KILL Honor Ring™ – a black band worn on the right index finger symbolizing the “trigger finger”. By choosing to become part of Team #22KILL and wearing this ring, you are committed to:

Focus on veteran strengths and challenge negative attitudes around veteran “issues” Advocate for veterans in a positive light in any platform you have.Raise awareness to the issues of veteran suicide, and follow up with a positive solution through education and empowerment through programs offered from local nonprofits and veteran service organizations

Believing that veterans are America’s greatest asset and learning to love them and showing them that you care.