ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – At Brookdale Valencia Senior Living facility in Southeast Albuquerque are some of the bravest women of their generation. “She saw the recruiting posters for the WAVES and she was very patriotic and wanted some adventure, so she signed up and went to Washington D.C.,” said Linda Blanchard.
Story continues below
- Trending: Documentary highlights New Mexicans among first women to serve in the Navy
- Community: Local leader calls for increased law enforcement presence at Navajo Lake
- News: New Mexico gov. creates new government office to deal with housing crisis
- Events: What’s happening around New Mexico August 9-15
Her mother, Dorothy, passed away at 101-years-old in June. Dorothy was among the first women to serve in the Navy during World War II as part of the Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES. She joined the Navy in 1943 and climbed the ranks to assist some of the military’s top officials. It’s just awesome. It’s amazing and I don’t think she fully realized how remarkable she is, but she was a great role model for me,” said Blanchard.