Mayumi Kimura

06/05/2026

“To be a woman who has served in the Marine Corps is to live by uncompromising standards where discipline, performance, and accountability define you long before anything else does. It is earning your place every day in a culture that does not make room for shortcuts, only results.

It also means you did not get here alone. You stand on the shoulders of the women who came before you those who served when the roles were narrower, the scrutiny was sharper, and the recognition was nonexistent. They didn’t wait for permission. They showed up, did the work, and set the conditions for what was possible.

Because of them, the path is wider now, but the expectation remains the same: execute, lead, and carry the standard forward.

And that legacy doesn’t belong to one uniform or one service, it lives across all branches of the United States Armed Forces.” – Caroline Fermin, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

In honor of the 78th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which allowed women to serve as permanent members of the Armed Forces, on June 12th, we asked our veterans to share what it means to them to be a woman who has served and their reflections on women who paved the way. Thank you for your service, Caroline!

06/05/2026

Meet the final 2026 CalVet Trailblazer Award Honoree, Teresa “Tess” Banko ✨

A U.S. Marine Corps Engineer veteran who served stateside and overseas from 2000-2003, Tess continues her commitment to service through her work as Director with The Veterans Collective.

For 20 years, she has empowered veterans by helping build the programs, resources, and environments needed to thrive after military service. Her work in veteran community development has helped create communities where veterans can access housing, supportive services, and opportunities for long-term well-being.

Personal Quote:
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears” - Nelson Mandela

Meet Tess Banko on June 11 at our CalVet Women Veterans Trailblazer Reception as we celebrate their impact and continued commitment to California’s veteran community.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4ng4SAv

06/03/2026

Meet the third of our four 2026 CalVet Trailblazer Award Honorees, Jesica Davenport ✨

A U.S. Navy Builder veteran who served stateside from 2006-2008, Jesica continues her commitment to service through her work as the Director of Veteran Wellness & Community Engagement with the Military Woman’s Collective.

For 18 years she has supported California veterans by helping them build meaningful connections, reduce isolation, and prioritize their overall wellness. Her work in veteran wellness and engagement has helped veterans feel supported, valued, and empowered within their communities.

Personal Quote:
“Your story matters”

Meet Jesica Davenport on June 11 at our CalVet Women Veterans Trailblazer Reception as we celebrate their impact and continued commitment to California’s veteran community.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4ng4SAv

05/29/2026

VA News published a story about me today, and I’m sitting with a lot of gratitude.

For most of my career as a therapist, I was trained to keep myself out of the room. Learning to share my own story publicly has been its own kind of practice. What’s in this article is real, and it is only part of the picture. All of our lives are that way.

If any of it feels like yours, I hope it moves you to reach out, for information, support, or care you’ve earned. CalVet is here.

California Department of Veterans Affairs Japanese American Veterans Association National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators NASW-CA Chapter

The story of Mayumi Kimura, Navy Veteran and deputy secretary for Women Veteran Affairs, California Department of Veterans Affairs.

05/27/2026

Meet the first of our four 2026 CalVet Women Veteran Trailblazers, Elizabeth Rocha ✨

A U.S. Marine Corps Supply veteran who served from 2015 to 2020, both stateside and overseas, she continues her commitment to service through her role as Chair of the Women Veterans Working Group with the OC Veterans and Military Families Collaborative.

For the past six years, she has supported California veterans by creating a space where women veterans feel seen, supported, and empowered. Her advocacy work strengthens the sense of community and collaboration that is essential to improving the long-term well-being of California veterans and their families.

Personal Quote:

“Stop wondering if you can make a difference and start believing you can. That’s when your voice is the strongest.”

Meet Elizabeth Rocha on June 11 at the CalVet Women Veterans Trailblazer Reception as we celebrate their impact and continued commitment to California’s veteran community.

Register Here: https://bit.ly/4ng4SAv

05/27/2026

Overcast skies and chilly temperatures didn’t dissuade an audience of over 100 people from honoring Vallejo’s fallen war heroes at the city’s Warriors’ Memorial behind City Hall on Memorial Day.

Monday’s event was the second of two…
See more below:

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

On Saturday, I had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker at the Japanese American Joint Memorial Service in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, beside the Japanese American National War Memorial Court.

The memorial wall holds the names of Japanese Americans who gave their lives in our nation’s wars. Standing there was a powerful reminder that legacy is not only about what is remembered, but what we choose to carry forward.

As a veteran, I know my own service was shaped by those who came before me, including Japanese Americans who served and gave their lives to a country that placed their families behind barbed wire. Their courage, and the sacrifices of their families, made room for generations of service members who followed

Honoring them does not end with a ceremony. It means continuing to be people worthy of the sacrifices they and their families made. It means remembering honestly, serving with humility, and carrying their legacy forward in how we show up for one another.

I am deeply grateful to have been part of such a meaningful day of remembrance.

California Department of Veterans Affairs Nisei Week Foundation Nisei VFW Post 8985 Japanese American Veterans Association Little Tokyo Nisei Week Foundation Nichi Bei Foundation Rafu Shimpo

05/26/2026

This morning in Vallejo, I stood with veterans, families, and community members to honor those who did not come home.

Memorial Day asks something of us. Not just attendance. Not just ceremony. It asks us to remember the women and men who gave their lives in service to this nation, and to recognize the families, friends, communities, and brothers and sisters in arms who continue to carry their memory.

Their legacy does not end at the cemetery gate. It follows us home. It lives in how we care for those who served beside them, those who came home, and the families who continue to carry their love, grief, and legacy.

Thank you to the Disabled American Veterans Ozie Boler Chapter 21, the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building Council, the City of Vallejo, and all of the community and veteran organizations who made today’s ceremony possible.

May we continue striving to be worthy of the sacrifices made, and the legacy left behind.



California Department of Veterans Affairs National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators Disabled Veterans National Foundation - DVNF Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary

05/23/2026

Veterans & families!! There is still time for you to get your “Veterans Night Out”game tickets!!
There will be more than a dozen VSOs (Veteran Service Organizations) on hand to help you with resources!

Want to join us? Check out the link in the bio! HUGE THANKS TO the Lake Elsinore Storm crew!