Veterans Health & Wellness Foundation Honors Female Veterans at “A Serenade for Strength” Awards Gala

Retired Army Col. Tony Johnson, retired Navy Col. Cynthia Miller and retired Air Force Col. La Forrest Williams attend The Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation's Annual Awards Gala. Miller is a member of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

BETHESDA, Md. / April 1, 2026 / BPALiveWire — The Veterans Health & Wellness Foundation held its Annual Awards Gala, A Serenade for Strength: Honoring Her Service, Healing Her Journey, on Tuesday at the Music Center at the Strathmore. The event brought together veterans, community leaders, caregivers and supporters for an evening of recognition, music and reflection focused on the service and unique challenges faced by the nation’s growing population of female veterans.

The gala opened with a reception, dinner and silent auction. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich issued a formal proclamation declaring the day in honor of female veterans, noting their “extraordinary courage, dedication and sacrifice” and the need for improved mental health and wellness support.

A POW/MIA Remembrance Table stood as a solemn tribute to service members who did not return home. The program continued with welcome remarks, opening comments from foundation leaders, and a musical reflection featuring three-time Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, violinist and educator Stephen Spottswood, composer and pianist Victor Simonson.

Dr. Leslie Dillard, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and strategic leadership expert, delivered the keynote address and received the foundation’s inaugural Vital Ground Award for her work bridging military and civilian health care. Additional Delivering on the Promise Awards were presented Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Norvell V. Coots, Steve Schwab of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Virginia Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, Dr. Carolyn Clancy and  posthumously to Dr. Renee Allen.

In a message printed in the program, Dr. Evelyn Lewis, MD, president and chair of the Veterans Health & Wellness Foundation, wrote, “There is something profound about a serenade. It is not a performance for the masses; it is an intimate offering. A melody directed at someone who matters. A song that says: I see you. I honor you. You are not forgotten.” She added, “Tonight, that serenade belongs to her.”

Lewis emphasized the foundation’s mission, stating: “The Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation created A Serenade for Strength: Honoring Her Service | Healing Her Journey because we believe that honoring women Veterans is not a moment; it is a movement.

The event highlighted ongoing partnerships, including with CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, to address issues such as mental health access, military sexual trauma and transition support for women veterans.