At the 2025 Oregon Women Veterans Conference in Bend, more than 300 women veterans gathered to connect, reflect, and inspire each other. The event, hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) under the theme of “Stronger Together: Community and Connection”, celebrated the diverse service and leadership of women veterans across eras.
Among the featured speakers was Melissa A. Washington, Navy veteran and founder of the Women Veterans Alliance, who was invited by Jessica Bradley, Women Veterans Coordinator for ODVA, to share her journey and insights with the audience. It was an honor for Melissa to stand on that stage and contribute to the dialogue of empowerment and unity among women who have served.
Adding to the significance of the moment, Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, presented Melissa with a framed Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs challenge coin, a symbol of gratitude and recognition for her contributions and commitment to the veteran community.
In her remarks, Melissa spoke not only about her service and experiences but also about the power of gathering across generations. In a memorable and joyful moment, she invited both the youngest (age 27) and most seasoned veteran (age 84) in the room to join her on stage to cut a cake, a tradition she brings from the Women Veterans Unconference, now joyfully adopted by this event. That gesture underscored the conference’s spirit of inclusion, celebration, and shared legacy.
For Melissa, being part of this collective was both humbling and energizing. She left the stage honored, inspired, and even more committed to continuing her mission of empowering women veterans through connection, recognition, and purpose.
As the conference drew to a close, one message stood out: when women veterans come together, across age, rank, branch, and experience, they amplify each other’s voices and open doors for the next generation.
In addition to speaking on the main stage at the Oregon Women Veterans Conference, she was honored to join a panel discussion on Networking, Organizations, and Collaboration.
She was in great company with Leanne Babcock with Dauntless Veteran Foundation, the 2019 Melissa Washington Small Business Award winner, and Kim and Dakota with The Reveille Project, who are among this year’s finalists for the award.
It was wonderful to meet Kim and Dakota in person and to share how we’ve all collaborated in different ways to support and empower veterans. This panel truly showed the power of connection and how working together strengthens our entire community.
