Author: LaKisha Brown

Honoring the women whose service to our nation continues through service to our community.

Each Veterans Day, we honor the generations of service members who have worn our nation’s uniform. Among the most powerful chapters in that story is the moment on June 12, 1948, when President Harry Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act into law. For the first time, women were granted the right to serve as permanent members of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

This was transformational. What began as a signature on legislation has since reshaped the military, expanded opportunity, and helped unlock the leadership potential of millions of women. The ripple effect of that decision continues today, in service, in public life, in workplaces across the country, and here in the Junior League of Washington (JLW). For so many women veterans, service didn’t end after the uniform; it evolved.

From Military Formation to Community Impact

This Veterans Day, JLW proudly celebrates the women veterans in our League whose leadership journeys began in the Armed Forces and now continue here as they champion our mission of empowering women and strengthening our community. We had the privilege of hearing directly from several JLW members whose stories reflect that legacy.

Christina Babcock 

United States Air Force, Captain 

Current JLW Role: President, 2025–2026

For JLW President Christina Babcock, leadership has always been rooted in service. A proud U.S. Air Force veteran who served for ten years, she reflects on her time in uniform as foundational to how she leads today. “My time in the service was precious to me because I learned so much about leadership, first and foremost, the power of community,” Babcock shared. “I learned the value of bringing a team together, aligning them under a vision, and watching them execute.”

That philosophy carries directly into her presidency with the League. “Leadership happens at every layer of the organization,” Babcock said. “As president, it’s my job to set the vision, but it’s also my job to empower the leaders around me and make sure they have the tools and resources they need to succeed.”

She credits her military experience with giving her the discipline to lead decisively, the humility to listen, and the perspective to celebrate shared success. “I’m so proud of the hard work our leaders have put forward this year,” she added. “I’m constantly inspired by the innovation, energy, and dedication that each member brings to the League every single day.”

Delna Clark

Army Reserve, Senior Human Resource Specialist
Current JLW Role: Community Impact Council Director

For Clark, three decades in the Army Reserve helped shape the servant-leader mindset she brings to JLW today. “The military instills in you that sense of service, that sense of community, and teambuilding — and those skills transfer over greatly to being not only a volunteer in the JLW but a leader within it,” she shared.

Clark added that military discipline and resilience often become catalysts for courage in civilian life. “It helps us to not be as fearful and step out on what I’ll call faith — to raise your hand and do things you might never have thought you would stand up to lead.”

Cindy Moore

Army (E-4), Warehouse Specialist in the Quartermaster Branch
Current JLW Role: Tossed & Found Committee Member

Growing up in a small town, Moore saw the military as a path to new opportunities — a way to learn skills and gain independence. Her service taught her the power of teamwork and how individuals can come together to achieve something greater than themselves. 

That same spirit now drives her volunteer work with the Tossed & Found Committee. “I love watching every part of the process come together — from building the venue and accepting donations to sorting, organizing, and finally seeing it all come to life during the sale and tear down,” Moore said. “It’s a complete, collaborative effort that highlights what can be accomplished when people work together toward a shared goal.”

A Legacy That Continues

From tactical formations to strategic planning and readiness drills to mission execution, women in every branch of the military have carried forward skill sets that fuel impact. These include problem-solving under pressure, resourcefulness, collaboration, and confidence in stepping forward rather than waiting to be asked. These are not only military competencies — they are League competencies and are instrumental to JLW’s success and impact.

This Veterans Day, JLW salutes all veterans, especially those women in our League who continue to lead beyond the call of duty.