Service & Sacrifice: Battlin' Betties

BATTLIN' BETTIES

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALL ABOUT DOING GOOD, FEELING GOOD AND HAVING FUN

by Alyssa Black

for valor magazine

Drawing inspiration from women of the 1940s and ’50s, volunteers for the Battlin’ Betties, a nationwide nonprofit, are dedicated to doing their part to help and support veterans, military, first responders and their families — all while looking the part of “glamorous, vintage women.”

Angie Toone, Utah platoon leader and national board member, started and runs the Utah group. She believes dressing in pin-up style clothing represents what the organization does. "We stand for the time in our history when everyone was patriotic, supported the military and the war effort," she said. "We're going back to those times through our dress and with what we do."

Battlin' Betties aspire to educate the public about mental health and other issues that veterans deal with while providing community services "wherever they can do the most good as often as they can." Platoon members go to all kinds of events — anything from staffing an information booth at a veterans' car show, greeting veterans on a Utah Honor Flight, helping hands at the Elks Foundation's Little Warriors Camp, to hosting a selfcare retreat for their members.

Many organizations ask Battlin' Betties to come to their events because the ladies work hard, care deeply, and are devoted to veterans and their families. They can relate to the people who stop to talk and share their stories because most of the platoons' members are either veterans themselves, married to veterans, have family members who have served, or are caregivers for a wounded warrior. Of course, a pretty dress and a pretty smile go a long way.

Stacy Brown, the wife of a U.S. Army veteran, joined the platoon because of the many people in her life who have served in the military and have inspired her. "Growing up I wanted to emulate their strength of character, sense of justice and service to others," said Brown. "Being a Bettie allows me to give back to those who are willing to sacrifice all for us."

ADVOCATING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

One of the most important aspects of the organization is educating people about mental health and providing resources for veterans. Battlin’ Betties member Shelly Hevelone does not like the negative ways the media portrays those who are diagnosed with hidden injuries. The media tends to put those with PTSD into one category, as if they're monsters, leading to misconceptions and unfair treatment and misconceptions. "It just breaks my heart," says Hevelone while stressing we should treat all people with kindness and the way we want to be treated.

Clearing up misconceptions and ending the stigma associated with mental illnesses, especially PTSD, is something the Battlin’ Betties strive to do by raising awareness and “being there” for those who need help and support.

POLISHING A PERSONA

Being a Battlin' Betties can also be a big self-esteem boost for women within the organization. Often in service organizations and volunteer work, some people tend not to care about how they look and many "don't feel pretty" said Toone. The Battlin’ Betties is a great organization for people who want to help others and still feel good about themselves.

Toone says she sees women that want to join the platoon but are hesitant because they don't know how to "dress up" or where to start. "We take them under our wing and help them by teaching them about the 1940s and '50s fashions, how to do their makeup and style their hair," Toone said. The more seasoned members help teach the recruits how to "walk and talk" the vintage lifestyle.

As new members develop their persona — be it Rosie the Riveter, June Cleaver, or somewhere in between — and start getting compliments and thank-yous, they "blossom" as

photos courtesy of battlin' betties

individuals and within the organization. "Many of us have issues and have gone through tough things. We're trying to lift each other up and help pull our ladies out of their shells," Toone said. “It’s incredible to see them grow as they challenge themselves.”

Toone says it is important for the volunteers to learn to create a "safe place," for those who share their memories whether good or bad. "A pretty woman in a pretty dress can take a veteran back in time to happier times when they were young, carefree and invincible,” Toone says. “We’re happy to share in those memories.”

JOINING THE PLATOON

The Battlin’ Betties are all about advocating and doing good for veterans, military, first responders and their families while feeling good about themselves and having fun.

The only requirements to join the Battlin’ Betties are to be a patriotic woman over the age of 18. And you must fill out an online application before finally doing a phone interview with Toone. To stay in the group, a volunteer must attend a minimum of four events a year, which is fairly easy because the ladies often attend multiple events a week.

If you want to request the Battlin’ Betties to come to your event contact them through the Battlin’ Betties Utah Platoon Facebook page; or if you want to learn more or to fill out an application go to battlinbetties.org.

Alyssa Black was born and raised in Utah with aspirations to be an author of young adult fiction. She is attending Snow College as an English major and hopes to get out of small towns for at least a decade.