As a UAW member of 19 years has given me the privilege of becoming an active member of the
UAW Local 95 Veteran’s Committee 6 years ago. I am not a veteran but proud wife,
daughter, sister of many Veterans.  I have been very active with
Local 95 Veterans Committee; we have done Care Package Drives for our troops across seas, gate collections,
raffles, t-shirt/print sales, Veterans Displays, Christmas with the Vets at the Zablocki VA Hospital in Milwaukee,
Vets Days in Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa & Minnesota, and also Fishing With The Hospitalized Vets at Wind Lake, Wisconsin.
In the fall of 2004 I became the Chairwomen of the UAW Region 4 Vets Women’s Round Table, serving as a
great leader to many women who come to the fall and spring conferences in Ottawa Illinois. Our goal of the
Region 4 UAW Veteran’s Women’s Round Table is to generate interest and grow as a body of women, the
need to educate ourselves regarding UAW and veterans issues, that effect us, our families and significant others.
Through education and comes understanding! To be an integral support group for Region 4 Veteran’s to bring
in speakers for education & enrichment! To share as UAW sisters, our experiences in the healing process &
preserve the virtues & integrity of the council. We hold a dance once a year to raise money to donate to our
Vets Days, Vets Home of the Year and other various Veterans organizations.
We also hold raffles at the spring and fall conferences,
again donations go back to our Veterans and Troops. I have taken great pride in serving my UAW sisters and
leading them as great leader. I have also served as Coordinator for the 9th Annual WI POW/MIA Balloon
Launch last year during Memorial Day which took place off Milwaukee’s Lakefront at the Veterans Memorial Park.
This has given me extensive training to become the leader I am.
We launched off 20,000 black balloons in memory of our POW/MIA who have not returned home.
Last year the original founder/coordinator returned to Wisconsin and took back over the 10th Anniversary
WI POW/MIA Balloon Launch, with my help serving as secretary/treasurer. I am also a volunteer of Mission:
Welcome Home through WDVA, an organization which helps assist returning service members with their
transition from active duty service member to veterans. Another organization I have helped with is Being
There-Reaching Out. This organization is to assist the families of our Wisconsin’s fallen military to the war
in Iraq and Afghanistan. To be there for them emotionally, physically, and economically; And to reach out to
them by organizing, primarily private gatherings, which allow them to continue to heal through one on one
communications, and sharing with one another. I have helped organize a weekend retreat in October of 2005
for the families. I have personally met with many of the families and they have shared their experiences of
loosing their loved ones who have sacrificed their lives so we could live a proud country we call USA. These
are just a few of the active veterans organizations I am proud to be members of. I am also a member of the
Janesville Patriotic Society and I am also a volunteer for the Veterans History Project. Since I couldn’t serve
my country I have been servicing my veterans and troops through many of these great veterans’ organizations
in return for what they have given me, my freedom! I take great pride in what I have done, and
it has been a great learning experience in becoming who
I am. As Executive of the Veterans for a Change, this has given me the privilege to continue to
teach children across America the meaning of Veterans.

Julie Spangler
Executive-Veterans for a Change
Coordinator- 9th Annual POW/MIA Balloon Launch
Secretary/Treasurer-10th Anniversary POW/MIA Balloon Launch
Mission: Welcome Home -Volunteer
Veteran’s History Project-Volunteer
Being There-Reaching Out-Volunteer
Janesville Patriotic Society-Member