meet a few of your lady heroes
Helen Ferrar
Helen Ferrar, of Boca Raton, is a 100-year-old Army veteran, who will be the lead Grand Marshal in this year’s event. Ferrar served in Normandy, France, while history was being made. In WWII, during D-Day, she worked the telephones, as a Signaleer, in the Signal Corps., for about three years. As a telephone operator, at times she fielded top secret calls.
Ferrar, who met and married her late husband Robert, while in Paris, is pleased that women veterans are being recognized during Women’s History Month. When asked how she felt about women selected as Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, she exclaimed, “It’s about time!”
Lisa "BB" Brown-Banic
Lisa “BB” Browne-Banic, of Boca Raton, served in the United States Army for about 20 years. She was honorably discharged as a Major in 2016, after her last assignment as a Public Affairs Officer for retired Marine General John Kelly, at United States Southern Command, in Miami. She is excited to be a part of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival, during Women’s History Month.
“I am so honored and so happy the city agreed to do this,” Browne-Banic said. “The timing is perfect to positively recognize that women and men need to work together to successfully protect all our rights and freedoms. Veterans have a special bond, regardless of age, role, or rank, but as women, only we know what it’s like to be invisible. This parade is going to change that.”
Cynthia Kase
Boca Raton resident, Cynthia Kase, will march in the parade on March 16. Kase spent more than 14 years in the United States Naval Reserves, as an engineering duty officer. Her honorable discharge reads Lieutenant Commander. In 1973, when she got her first job out of school, she was the only female in the engineering department. During that time, there were three female engineering graduates for every 997 males. “Featuring all women veterans as Grand Marshal in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is such a great idea because it brings visibility that there were women in the military too,” Kase said. “Being an officer allowed me to learn how to exercise authority. Acceptance from my fellow officers gave me a good background on how to conduct myself and made me feel that I was an equal to my male colleagues.”
Kim Lott
Lake Worth resident Kim Lott, also a Navy veteran, served as an operations specialist for nearly 10 years. Now she partners with job centers and works to get other veterans hired. “Any opportunity to get together with fellow women vets is an opportunity I’m not going to miss,” said Lott.
Kelley Rheault
Kelley Rheault, of Sebastian, is an Air Force veteran, who served during the Cold War and Desert Shield/Storm. She was in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down, working as an airborne German linguist.
Christina "CiCi" Fox
Christina “CiCi” Fox, of Hypoluxo, served in the Marine Corps from 2004-2008. She was honorably discharged as a Corporal. “An event like this doesn’t happen all the time; when it comes to female veterans, we are usually in the background,” said Fox. “This is really special.”