American Legion Auxiliary 2010 Woman of the Year
The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth
INDIANAPOLIS - The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, was named the 2010 American Legion Auxiliary Woman of the Year for her positive impact on the quality of life for the men and women of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
Duckworth served as director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs from 2006-2008. As director, she implemented many first-in-the-nation, cutting-edge programs for veterans, especially in the areas of healthcare, mental health, housing and employment. She also initiated a public-private partnership program giving grants to nonprofits working on veterans disability, homelessness, long-term medical care and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“In selecting the Woman of the Year recipient, each year we search for someone who is making an impact on families and communities, particularly military and veteran families,” said Auxiliary National President Rita Navarreté. “We seek a woman of integrity and character--someone to look up to as a leader and motivator. I had the opportunity to meet Honorable Duckworth last spring at the Auxiliary’s Awareness Assembly in Washington, D.C., and I believe she is a marvelous candidate for this award.”
A major in the Illinois Army National Guard, Duckworth served in Iraq as an Assistant Operations Officer and also flew combat missions as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. During a mission north of Baghdad in 2004, her aircraft was ambushed and a rocket-propelled grenade struck the helicopter she was co-piloting. She continued to attempt to pilot the aircraft until passing out from blood loss. As a result of the attack, Duckworth lost both of her legs and partial use of one arm. She received many decorations for her actions, including the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.
Duckworth received the prestigious American Legion Auxiliary award Aug. 31 at the organization’s 90th national convention in Milwaukee. Previous Woman of the Year recipients include former Secretaries of State Elizabeth Hanford Dole and Condeleeza Rice, author Erma Bombeck, former First Lady Laura Bush, country music artists Barbara Mandrell and Chely Wright and Maj. Gen. Gale S. Pollock, deputy surgeon general for Force Management of the U.S. Army.
Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. With a membership of nearly 850,000, local American Legion Auxiliary units have a strong presence in more than 9,500 communities nationwide. The American Legion Auxiliary’s mission to serve veterans, their families and their communities is carried out through its hundreds of outreach programs delivered by its members, volunteers and National Headquarters.