The American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) Chicago chapter hosted its 24th Annual Veterans Day Dinner Nov. 11 at Ann Sather on Belmont.
Captain Bridget Altenburg, US Army, was the keynote speaker. She graduated from West Point in 1995, two years after Don't Ask, Don't Tell started. She was a founding member of Knight's Out, one of the key groups that worked to overturn DADT. She served as an Army engineer for five years including three deployments to Kosovo. She is currently COO of the National Able Network.
Altenburg spoke about the history of women in the military, her own experiences in the service, and the the progress she has seen.
"For those who stayed in the military over many years, it must seem like the pace of change has been terribly slow. It took decades for women to gain opportunities beyond nursing and another 20 years before they could serve as combat pilots. And here we are 23 years later finally integrating the rest of the combat zone."
She also pointed to work that remains unfinished.
"Five years ago when Don't Ask, Don't Tell ended, we left unfinished work. In our excitement we forgot our trans brothers and sisters who have continued to get kicked out of the service. This despite the fact that trans people volunteer to serve at five times the rate of the general population. They [still] face terrible struggles in the military."
Altenburg and AVER Chicago chapter treasurer Timothy Zylstra, U.S. Navy, received AVER's annual Happy Warrior Awards.
AVER President Jim Darby served as MC for the event, which also included a silent auction. Dean Ogren sang the "National Anthem" and Trish Keporos sang "America the Beautiful." Susan Jones performed "Echo Taps."
Stan Jenczyk, who spearheaded AVER's placement of an LGBT monument at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, spoke about the group's next monument goal—to place an LGBTQ tribute at the corner of Halsted and Addison, where the LGBTQ-friendly senior Town Hall apartments are located, also the location of the former Town Hall police station. They need to raise $20,000 for the effort. Send donations to AVER-Chicago, P.O. Box 29317, Chicago, IL 60629 or www.gofundme.com/lgbtq-veterans-halsted-st-monument .
