Army nurse recently returned from Iraq guest speaker
She was part of the last MASH Unit in the United States Army, is recently returned from Iraq and now stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood. 1st Lt. Laura Schlenker will share her experiences as part of the Army Nurse Corp at a Rose Petal Ceremony and Luncheon on Monday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Settle Inn in Branson as part of Veterans Homecoming events sponsored by the Branson Veterans Task Force (BVTF).
"The Rose Petal Ceremony is a moving tribute to all women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. The Branson Veterans Task Force has as part of its mission to promote an environment of patriotic pride and dignity to recognize and honor our nation’s veterans and their families. As a division of the Task Force, the Women Veterans Committee is dedicated to being an avenue through which women veterans receive the long overdue recognition for their contributions and sacrifices to this nation. We are honored to have Lt. Schlenker as our guest for the Rose Petal Ceremony," said Mary Slivka, chairman of the Women Veterans Committee and a member of the BVTF Board of Directors.
Schlenker is the assistant head nurse at Ft. Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital Emergency Department. She joined the Army Nurse Corps in 2004 as a certified emergency nurse with four years of emergency room experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in chemistry. Prior to joining the Army she had worked all over the country as a travel nurse and teaching at the University of Wisconsin. Soon after officer basic training she was stationed in Wuerzburg, Germany. Three months later she joined the 67th Combat Support Hospital in Mosul, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In January of ‘05 she returned to Germany to work in the Wuerzburg Army Community Hospital Emergency Department.
Eight months later Schlenker went to Muzzafrabad, Pakistan, on a humanitarian mission in support of Operation Earthquake Relief where she worked in the Emergency Department of the last MASH Unit in the United States Army, the 212th MASH. In Pakistan the MASH saw and treated more than 300 earthquake victims a day. After four months Schlenker returned to the 67th in Germany and the MASH Unit returned home. Less than 90 days later, Schlenker moved to her assignment at Ft. Leonard Wood.
"Lt. Schlenker will be a part of the Rose Petal Ceremony and speak at the luncheon. Women veterans, active duty service women and members of the community are invited to attend the event. It will be held at Settle Inn at 3050 Green Mountain Dr. and begin at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony is free. Lunch, for which reservations are required, will immediately follow the service at the hotel restaurant. To make reservations call me at 417-334- 4084 ext. 317," said Slivka.
"This year, the service will be combined with the Two Bell Ceremony, a naval tribute, scheduled to be conducted by the Fleet Reserve of Springfield, Mo. The ceremony and luncheon are part of ‘Branson doesn’t forget’ the 13th annual Veterans Homecoming. For the third year the Task Force has set aside a day to recognize the contribution women veterans have made – Branson doesn’t forget women veterans," she said.