WVA History
On 19 September 1990, Women Veterans of America was formed by four Women Veterans
As the Gulf War was pending and it seemed eminent that a full-scale war was about to begin, the idea of forming We knew those women coming home from the Gulf would
2. Rooms for women patients with private bathrooms
3. Women's pajamas
4. GYN, mammograms, PAP smears, etc.
5. Special medications that women may need
6. Veteran Service Organization's (VSO) understanding the needs
7. PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, sexual harassment,
8. Transitioning from military to civilian life.
who were in a support
group lead by Claudia Mitzeliotis in Broklen, VA.
a Women Veterans of America organization, came about. We had already been through, and smoothed out,
the rough parts of dealing with the VA Hospital system.
need our expertise. We brought to the VA's attention, issues from women who had served in the military. The
majority of the patients were men so the WVA suggested the following issues be addressed:1. Privacy for patients
of disabled women veterans and how to handle
their cases.
and assault groups led by therapists and psychologists.
WVA Founders
WVA Founders (left to right): 
Katherine Mussen - Vietnam Veteran
June Panzeri - WWII Veteran
Claudia Mitzeliotis - Brooklyn, VA
Mildred Cipolla - Korean War Veteran
Colleen Mussolino - Vietnam Veteran