Honorees Biographies

Female Veterans Day EventMarch 30, 2016

1. Judge Cheryl Austin was nominated by Representative Madeleine Dean to
honor her for her service to our country. While in college, Judge Austin joined
the ROTC, becoming one of the first female midshipmen. She went on to serve in
the U.S. Navy at both the Pentagon and the U.S. Naval Academy, attaining the
rank of Lieutenant. In 2002, Judge Austin became the first African American
female to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas in Montgomery County.
2. Carla Barnes was nominated by Julie Slomski in the Governors office for her
service in the United States Army Reserves for the last 30 years. Carla
participated in three oversees missions in Germany and has earned countless
medals and commendations for her service, including, but not limited to the Army
Commendation medal and the Global War on Terrorism service medal.
3. Audrey Bergstresser was nominated by Senator Judy Schwank to honor her for
her service in the United States Army. Audrey first enlisted in the Womens Army
Corps in 1966 and served in various capacities, including in Vietnam, until she
retired in 1989 as a Sergeant Major and after having earned multiple awards and
decorations. Audrey continues to serve veteran constituencies throughout south
central Pennsylvania through her work as a Department of Pennsylvania VFW
service officer.
4. Ila Cole was nominated by the Pennsylvania Commission for Womens,
Commissioner Michelle Zmijanac and Todd DePastinofor her 3 years of service
as a WWII navy WAVE which was created after Congress passed a law that
allowed the Navy to accept women in the reserves during wartime.
5. Takia Colston-Krow was nominated by the Pennsylvania Commission for
Womens, Commissioner Tina Nixon for her 2 years of service in the United
States Army.
6. Judy Hoffmeister was nominated by Senator Judy Schwank to honor her for her
23 years of service to our country in the United States Army.

7. Estella Hyde was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,

Commissioner Denise Johnson for her service to our country as a Major in the
United States Army Nurses Corps.
8. Angie Janosky was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,
Commissioner Lesley Ridge for her 12 years of service to our country in the
United States Army.
9. Commissioner Mona Johnson was nominated by Senator Rob Teplitz to honor
her for her 6 years of service in the United States Army as a Specialist. Mona
currently serves a Susquehanna Township commissioner.
10. Kimberly Lengling was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,
Commissioner Denise Johnson for her service to our country in the United States
Air Force where she specialized in military intelligence.
11. Samantha Lewis was nominated by Representative Sainato and Amy Brinton of
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee for her four years of service in the United States Army
as a Chaplain Assistant, which included a deployment to Afghanistan. Samantha
is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work with a goal of gaining
employment in the VA.
12. Dr. Edith Mitchell was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,
Commissioner Mellanie Lassiter for her 34 years of service to our country and as
the first female physician to obtain the rank Brigadier General in the United
States Air Force. Dr. Mitchell is currently a clinical professor of medical oncology
at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
13. Captain Tamara Montgomery was nominated by Representative Madeleine
Dean for her 21 years of service as a decorated Iraq War hero in the United
States Army. After her convoy was attacked on Easter in 2004, killing a member
of her unit and seriously injuring Captain Montgomery, she was awarded a
Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for Valor, for her efforts in Iraq.
14. Julia Parsons was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,
Commissioner Michelle Zmijanac and Todd DePastino for her 3 years of service
as a WWII navy WAVE. Julia studied cryptology at Naval Reserve Midshipmens
School at Smith College, and then was ordered to Washington, D.C. for top
secret duty. She joined section SHARK, whose job it was to de-code German Uboat message traffic sent via the ENIGMA machine.

15. Diane Price was nominated by Senator Judy Schwank to honor her for her 6
years of service to our country in the United States Army.
16. Deborah Przybyla was nominated by Cassandra Coleman from the Governors
office for her service is the United States Air Force where she was stationed for
three years at Ramstein Air Force base in Germany.
17. Jessica Pugliese was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens Commission,
Commissioner Evie Rafalko McNulty for her service to our country in the United
States Marine Corps.
18. Florence Shutsy Reynolds was nominated by the Pennsylvania Womens
Commission, Commissioner Michelle Zmijanac and Todd DePastino for her
service as a WWII WASP-- the first female pilots to fly for the United States
military who ultimately were denied military status by Congress and were sent
home before the war was over and their work was done. Because the WASPs
were denied service, they were not entitled to benefits nor receive a military
burial until a law was passed in 1977 granting them veterans status.
19. Rebecca Richard was nominated by Representative Sainato and Amy Brinton of
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee for her 12 years of service in the United States Navy.
Rebecca enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 35 and was the oldest
participant at A school to earn her Master of Arms. Rebecca was sent to the
Middle East on a customs mission where she earned the rank of Third Class
Petty Officer. During her mission overseas she won several awards such as an
Army Achievement medal and the overseas medal. When she came home in
2010 she had no home to live in and no job. For 2 months she slept on a friends
couch and eventually found a job a place to live. She also at this time began
volunteering to conduct Funeral Honors for service members that passed. She
was given 2 Naval Achievement awards for completing over 20 funeral honors.
Last August, Rebecca re-enlisted for two more years.
20. Stacey Smith was nominated by Julie Slomski from the Governors Office for her
8 years of service in the United States Army which includes two deployments as
Military Police. As a result of her service, Stacey earned a Combat Action
badge.
21. Ronda Sparkman was nominated by Representative Patty Kim to honor her for
her 8 years of service to our country in the United States Army.
22. Beverly Taylor was nominated by Representative Patty Kim to honor her for her
11 years of service to our country in the United States Army Reserves.

23. Sandie Walker was nominated by Representative Kevin Schreiber to honor her
for the work that she does with veterans. Sandie is the daughter of known
veteran in York County, Mr. Sandy Walker, the owner of Veterans Helping Hands
in the city of York. After his passing, Sandie continued his legacy by opening Mr.
Sandys Homeless Veterans Center in York City.
23. Pam Zidik was nominated by Senator Rob Teplitz for her 8 years of service to
our country with the United States Air Force, 193rd Special Operations Group,
where she served as a Tech Sergeant. Pam was deployed during both Desert
Shield and Desert Storm.