Selfless service: OMAM pays tribute to veterans at annual ceremony

Ormond Memorial Art Museum's annual Veterans Day Tribute featured guest speaker Suzanne Gurule Oliver, a naval aviation veteran, and one of the first women to reach milestones in the military.

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It was 1979 and Suzanne Gurule Oliver was working on a helicopter when a four-star admiral interrupted her. She had been part of the U.S. Navy since 1976 — one of the 8% of women enlisted at the time.

The admiral, she recalled, asked her to join him on a flight and become the first woman to board a Navy ship. 

"I knew women were being heard," Oliver said. "It was the most important thing I'd ever seen — that we were able to open up doors that had been so closed for so many years."

Since that time, women have shattered glass ceilings, said Oliver, a naval aviation veteran. They've become pilots, commanding officers, and serving in the Special Forces. So on Veterans Day, as people nationwide reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served in the military, Oliver said it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in the military as well.

Oliver was the guest speaker for the Ormond Memorial Art Museum's Veterans Day Tribute, held on Monday, Nov. 11. The tribute featured songs by Ormond Beach resident Jennifer McGill, a presentation of colors by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University joint color guard, and a speech by U.S. Coast Guard veteran and retired orthopedic surgeon Andrew Gygi, who served in the Gulf War.

Deputy Mayor Harold Briley also welcomed event attendees.

"Today, our city commemorates our veterans who selflessly and bravely serve our country, and whose service has promoted freedom and democracy around the world to protect us here at home and ensure our freedom," Briley said.

Oliver, a chief petty officer, served in the U.S. Navy for 12 years, during which she served as an air crew member and a plane captain. She also established a nonprofit called "Heart of a Fighter," which is dedicated to supporting female veterans and first responders transition to civilian life. 

Oliver also founded two companies after she retired in 2013: Girl on Fire, which trains female veterans to work as project managers; and Momentum Research, an engineering firm specializing in utilities and construction, which is still operating.

Her decision to leave the military was not easy, she said. But when she became a mother, and a Navy widow during her pregnancy, she found that her family life and her flight status could not balance. 

But service continued in her family, she said. Her cousin's granddaughter is enlisted in the Navy, and her niece served in the Air Force. Together, she said, they can be sure that their legacy will never be forgotten.

"As we honor veterans today, let us specifically acknowledge the women who have fought for their right to serve for the recognition they deserve," Oliver said. "Let us celebrate their bravery, their resilience and our unwavering commitment to our nation."

 

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