Lady vets get their due at Oxford tea

OXFORD – Of the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford’s 242 residents, only 11 are women veterans. While their number may be small, the contributions made by these remarkable women during their years of service to our nation are not, according to the organizers of a tea held on Thursday in their honor.

“I feel that sometimes women don’t get their due,” said PJ Cobb, the Norwich resident who spearheaded planning of this, the third annual Lady Veterans Tea sponsored by the Vets’ Home’s Volunteer Guild.

For Cobb, who herself retired in 1987 after serving 21 years in the U.S. Navy, celebrating the lives and contributions of others who have served is a show of respect for those who wore the uniform before her.

“They are our fore-sisters, who set the standards in pride and dedication upon which we strive to build,” she told other area women veterans, in the promotional materials she circulated before the event.

Her call to arms was answered by roughly a dozen other female veterans from throughout the region.

“I love seeing their faces ... seeing them being remembered,” said Naval veteran Karen Thompson of Norwich, who was one of those responded to Cobb’s invitation.

Gloria Maynard of Oxford, who served a total of six years in the U.S. Army, was also in attendance. Maynard said she felt very welcomed by those present and enjoyed the opportunity to “converse and share” with others who had served. This camaraderie was also enjoyed by Gail Merian of Norwich, who retired after 20 years in the Army Reserves.