This Memorial Day, let’s talk about the women who gave everything.
On Memorial Day, we line the streets. We hang the flags. We say the words.
“Thank you for your service.”
And we mean it. At least, we think we do.
But here’s what we’re not saying.
Women veterans have served in every war this country has fought. From the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. You bled on the same ground. You carried the same weight. You came home — and this country didn’t know what to do with you.
On the one day we set aside to honor the fallen and the brave — most people don’t even picture a woman. That is not accidental. That is a pattern.
The image of a veteran in this country is male. It has always been male. The VA was built for men. The statues are mostly men. The stories we tell are mostly men.
You raised your hand anyway.
You signed on the dotted line. You said you would give your life for this country. You meant it. You did it.
Some of you didn’t come home.
And those of you who did? You came home to employers who didn’t recognize your service. Communities that looked right past you. A system that was never built to hold you.
We see you.
Invisible Warriors is built by women, for women, with the understanding that belonging is not soft. It is everything. We believe that peer connection — women helping women — is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Not a program. Not a checklist. A community that knows your name before you finish your sentence.
You don’t need saving. You need what you earned.
Respect. Honor. A seat at the table that’s been at the head of this country’s defense since the beginning.
Memorial Day is not just for the men. It never was.
So this year, when you hang your flag and say your words — look a little further. Learn a name you don’t know. Support an organization fighting for women who served. Write a check. Show up.
Because “thanks for your service” is the beginning. Not the end.
It’s time we showed our gratitude with something deeper than words.
Because you don’t have to do it alone — we are here with you.
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Every now and then, you have to stop running and just breathe.
That is exactly what nine incredible women veterans did April 17 – 19, 2026, when Invisible Warriors headed to Crest View Lodge and Venue atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama, for our first annual Renew and Rise Retreat. Crest View was a wonderful choice – it was a beautiful location, deer wandered around, and the staff were friendly, helpful, and supportive. In spite of all the signs around the property, warning us about bears, they didn’t show up. Thankfully!
"Y'all, it was exactly what we needed."
Friday Arrival
From the moment we checked in Friday afternoon, the whole energy shifted. No schedules to chase, no obligations pulling us in ten directions. Just women who get it, in a gorgeous private setting, with nothing on the agenda but taking care of ourselves and each other. We settled in, connected, and sat down together for the first of many meals we would share that weekend.
Saturday: Rest, Renewal, and Real Talking
Saturday morning started with a continental breakfast, Tai Chi on the mountain, and then a sit-down breakfast for anyone who wanted to keep going. That became the rhythm of the weekend, and it was a good one.
We had a health program focused on the best ways to take care of your body, along with some time set aside just for pampering. Treat yourself, for real. Then came a talk about decluttering your life, your body, and your mind, which hit a lot of us right where we needed it.
After lunch, women had a choice between hiking in the beautiful park right next to the venue or working on an art project. Both groups came back glowing.
Then came a surprise none of us had planned for on the agenda. The women pulled together a birthday celebration for our founder Nancy Becher, complete with cake, ice cream, and a chorus of happy birthday that probably echoed off the mountain. It was one of those moments that reminded us exactly why we do this.
That evening we had dinner together and watched Served Like a Girl in the lodge’s movie room. Later we played dominoes and Phase 10 like we had something to prove, and the competition was fierce. The laughter was even fiercer.
"If you have not seen that film with a room full of women veterans, I highly recommend it. There was not a dry eye, and there did not need to be."
Sunday: Reflecting and Sharing
Saturday night’s dominos ran until 2 in the morning. Nobody complained. At 6:30, every single one of them was up to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Then they went back to bed, and yours truly had to play reveille to get them up at 10. Some things never change.
Sunday morning brought breakfast, and then something really special: time to reflect, journal, and share our takeaways from the weekend. That circle of voices, those women being honest about what they were carrying and what they were leaving behind, that is what Invisible Warriors is all about.
"Our speakers were women veterans, which is always the most powerful thing we can offer each other. No one has to explain the context. No one has to translate the experience. You just talk, and the room already knows."
No uniforms. No ranks. No judgment.
Just support. That is what we promised, and that is what we delivered.
With Deep Gratitude
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of Drake State Community & Technical College. Their grant funding covered a tremendous portion of this retreat, and we are so deeply grateful. We want to especially recognize Azra, Neoka, and Susan, whose belief in Invisible Warriors and in the women we serve goes far beyond writing a check. They show up for us, they champion what we are building, and they make it possible for our women to have weekends like this one. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
"If you are a woman veteran who has never been to an IW retreat, that needs to change. This is what we are here for: not just the resources and the advocacy, but the moments where you remember you are not alone."
You never were alone, and you never will be as long as we have each other.
Renew and Rise. We did exactly that.
With gratitude, Nancy, Founder and President of Invisible Warriors
Want to know more about Invisible Warriors?Sign up for our newsletterto receive regular updates. Contact us HERE. Or click the button below to schedule a meeting with founder Nancy Becher!
The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shape our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud? From September 25–28, Grand Oak Retreat in Scottsboro, AL, hosted the first of what Invisible Warriors hopes will be many retreats for women veterans. This was a safe space where women who’ve served our country could simply breathe, connect, and be heard.
For many attendees, the toll of military life lingers as Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The Department of Veterans Affairs notes that MST affects nearly 1 in 3 women veterans, and that women are twice as likely as men to develop PTS. Numbers like these aren’t abstract; they’re people, strong, brave people who deserve community, care, and a real shot at healing.
What I found most powerful about this weekend wasn’t the activities (though they were meaningful): it was the quiet moments when someone spoke honestly about her darkest days, and the group responded with listening, affirmation, and practical steps forward. As an Invisible Warriors spokesperson put it, “Isolation makes trauma worse. These retreats remind women veterans that they are not alone, that healing happens in community.”
A few moments that stayed with me:
One veteran, who had been red-flagged for suicide attempts five times, shared that she no longer feels the urge to harm herself. “Now I know there are others who care, who will show up if I call. I’m not alone anymore,” she said—tears and hope in the same breath.
Another attendee found the courage to pursue stability by filing for disability benefits. With peer encouragement, she completed her intent-to-file paperwork before the weekend ended, taking a concrete step toward the support she earned through service.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique? Drawing from her own experiences and educational background—including a Master’s in Counseling and a Ph.D. (ABD) in Sociology from Western Michigan University—Nancy works with women veterans and others facing invisible disabilities like PTSD and MST. As an International #1 bestselling author, certified Peer Support Specialist, and Chaplain, she founded Invisible Warriors to provide resources, training, and support that help military women recognize their worth and potential. Nancy continues to expand her skills as a Mental Health Coach, staying committed to breaking cycles of loss and empowering others through her work. You can reach her at Nancy@InvisibleWarriors.org.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world? Watching the vast number of women veterans who have given so much of themselves and their lives to support our country, yet seeing them dismissed, undervalued, and treated as less worthy than their male counterparts—that fundamentally changed how I see the world. These women served with the same dedication and sacrifice, but their struggles, especially with invisible wounds like PTS and MST, are often overlooked or minimized. Witnessing that disparity opened my eyes to how much work needs to be done to ensure women veterans receive the recognition, support, and care they’ve earned. It’s what drives everything I do with Invisible Warriors—making sure these women know they matter and that their service counts just as much as anyone else’s.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up? Almost daily, honestly. Fighting against the unjust actions around us, the lack of support from society, and even from those who should care most about these women—it wears on you. There are moments when it feels like you’re pushing against an impossible weight. But then something happens that reminds me God is watching. A breakthrough, a connection, someone’s life changing—these moments show me there’s still hope, still support, and that the world is still fundamentally a good place. Those reminders keep me going, even on the hardest days.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you? Absolutely. What you see is what you get. I don’t have the energy to pretend to be someone I’m not—this work is too important and too personal for that. My passion for supporting women veterans comes directly from my own experiences and what I’ve witnessed. The struggles, the frustrations, even the moments of doubt I share publicly—they’re all real. I believe authenticity is essential in this work because the women I serve need to know I truly understand, that I’ve been in the trenches too. So yes, the public Nancy is the real Nancy—flawed, determined, and completely committed to this mission.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do? I’m doing what I was born to do. This wasn’t the path anyone laid out for me or told me to follow—it found me through my own experiences and the injustices I couldn’t ignore. When you witness women who’ve sacrificed so much being dismissed and undervalued, you can’t just look away. This work chose me as much as I chose it. Everything in my life—my education, my struggles, my faith—has led me here. Supporting women veterans and those with invisible disabilities isn’t just a job or a calling someone handed me; it’s woven into who I am. I finally feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m meant to do.
Invisible Warriors Connects Veterans to Crucial Services
Connecting veterans to crucial services was the point of the recent vendor expo held by Invisible Warriors in Huntsville, AL. Despite vendor shortfall, North Alabama organizations rally to make sure veterans know about the many organizations that exist to support them. Female veterans’ advocacy group “Invisible Warriors” hosted a community resource expo, open to all veterans, amid what organizers are calling “dwindling support for veterans.”
Invisible Warriors wants you to know that we see you and we honor you for your service. Find support for women in the military, both active duty and veterans. Connecting veterans to the crucial services you need and resources and organizations that can help you to thrive are a core part of the mission of Invisible Warriors.
If you are an organization serving military women, please connect with us. We are building a resource and service network and would like to talk with you about promoting your organization. Contact us HERE to discuss how we can work together.
Watch the news report from Alabama Fox 54 on Invisible Warriors HERE.
Rally to connect veterans to crucial services
Invisible Warriors
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Recently, Invisible Warriors was pleased to be included in the formation of a new organization serving veterans in Alabama called River Region Veterans Coalition (RRVC). We believe that collaborating with other organizations serving veterans, especially women, is the best way to ensure their needs are met. We plan to continue to stay involved with RRVC and align with more organizations in the future so as to be a hub of information and resources for military women, both active duty and veterans.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A diverse group of existing organizations have partnered to form a new “River Region Veterans Coalition (RRVC).” The goal was to form a regional non-profit/apolitical coalition of public and private sector organizations that serve military veterans in the greater Montgomery region, similar to longstanding groups in the regions around Mobile (the South Alabama Veterans Council, SAVC), Birmingham (the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative, CAVC) and Huntsville (the North Alabama Veterans & Fraternal Organizations Coalition, NAVFOC). All three of those previously-existing regional veterans partnerships have been very helpful in establishing the new RRVC organization.
RRVC has already held meetings in February and March of this year, with local posts/chapters of such veteran service organizations as the Air & Space Forces Association, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League, the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vietnam Veterans of America in attendance. In addition, government agencies such as the Alabama National Guard and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have participated, as well as such private sector organizations as Bondfire Ranch, the Council on Substance Abuse, Invisible Warriors, Medicare Salute, Operation Iron Ruck, American Red Cross, Sage Health, Veterans Education Training & Support, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Want to know more about Invisible Warriors?Sign up for our newsletterto receive regular updates. Contact us HERE. Or click the button below to schedule a meeting with Founder Nancy Becher!
