Honoring Kentucky's Women Veterans

After putting their life on the line, many veterans struggle to return home and reintegrate into civilian life, but thanks to organizations like Lady Veterans Connect, these heroes never have to feel alone. Founded and led by Phyllis Abbott and their board, Lady Veterans Connect is a community non-profit focused on providing resources and housing to female veterans in the commonwealth.

In 2016 Lady Veterans Connect opened its first transitional housing program in Lexington, Kentucky. Reverend Dr. Jim Thurman, a U.S. Army veteran and AARP Kentucky volunteer, donated a home to Lady Veterans Connect.  Volunteers then restored the property to meet the housing needs of female veterans. In 2021, Lady Veterans Connect repurposed an old elementary school in Winchester, Kentucky that now operates as a 32-bed transitional housing program for veterans experiencing homelessness.

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Apart from these needed programs, Lady Veterans Connect offers a place of community for female veterans who may often be left out of other veteran groups. Data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that only 9% of veterans 50+ are female. This results in less resources and opportunities for this group to share about the female experience in the Armed Services. Lady Veterans Connect provides an opportunity for the 26,000 women veterans in Kentucky to come together in a purposeful community.

Lady Veterans Connect held its 2026 Women Veterans’ Recognition Celebration at Equus Run Vineyard in Midway. It gathered and honored veterans who have served from across the Commonwealth. Nearly 100 women veterans joined the celebration.

AARP Kentucky

The day included a candid conversation with a panel of former Kentucky Women Veterans of the Year. The panelists included U.S. Army (Ret.), Addie Mattox (2025), U.S. Navy (Ret.), Monica Dean (2023), and U.S. Army (Ret.), Jo Ann Orr (2022).

The panelists focused on the importance of coming together as women veterans and of showing community to one another. Women across the audience shared their struggles with homelessness, PTSD, job hunting and navigating their health care needs since leaving the service. The event created a safe space for people to share their experiences and for others to offer support where they could. Free bus transportation for women veterans to the event from Louisville was provided by the Jo Ann Orr.

AARP Kentucky is proud to have shared its extensive resources and its continued support for Lady Veterans Connect. For more information on free AARP Veteran resources visit, aarp.org/veterans.