“Vanquishing The Invisible”
An Independent Portrait Project by James R Morrison and J Mara Morrison
Vanquishing The Invisible will be displayed at the California State Fair during Military and
Veteran Appreciation Day, July 18th continuing on July 19th in the Fine Arts Building 7.
Thank you for your interest in “Vanquishing the Invisible”. From the beginning, you recognized the value and importance of bringing these portraits and stories to the public. We truly appreciate your support and we look forward to seeing you at a future event.
Yvonne Alexander
U.S. Army
When I looked out over my 6th-grade class, I was reminded of the journey that brought me to where I am today. Twenty-eight years ago, I walked into the recruitment office in Inglewood, California and joined the United States Army. I was at a turning point in my life. I had made some bad decisions and wanted to redeem myself with my parents.
I was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for boot camp. Women were assigned to male drill sergeants, who exhibited no sensitivity toward women recruits. My training was strenuous, but because my mother had raised me to survive, I withstood the abusive language and behavior. Living with my adopted godmother had further prepared me. If she wasn’t cussing at us, we were alarmed and thought she wasn’t feeling well. When I jumped off the truck at boot camp and heard the drill sergeant cuss, I laughed. It felt just like home.
Being a young, Black American female in a male-dominated society presented continual challenges. I dealt with verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. As a soldier, I excelled at my job, yet I had to fight for opportunities to get the necessary training to advance my career. Through these challenges, I developed a deeper relationship with God. Without Him, I would not have made it through.
At one point, I reenlisted and requested to be stationed in Germany. After spending two weeks there, I found out I was pregnant and requested to be chaptered out. After four years in the U. S. Army, I left Germany with a sense of pride, determined to be the best mom possible. A decent job allowed me to care for my son while obtaining my Master’s in Curriculum Instruction and a Multiple Subject Teacher Credential. In 2017, I completed my Administration Credential and Single Subject English Authorization with a goal to be a Vice Principal within the Sacramento school district.
When I moved to Sacramento, California it was to be closer to my college-aged son, not knowing at the time, God’s plan to bring me closer to him as he was later diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer. It was a time given to me as a gift, as my son battled and eventually transitioned to be with God.
When I reflect back over my military days and the journey I’ve endured, it is the catalyst that has brought me to where I am now. A mother who has experienced the loss of her eldest child, a leader who empowers today's youth, and a woman who takes pride in the strength to move forward and share her story to help others.
The journey and the experiences helped mold me into the person I am today— a proud Woman Veteran of the United States Army.
We received the highest praise on the surveys and in personal comments affirming this project touches viewers in a deep and profound way. Their use of words like, “powerful”, “enlightening”, “passionate”, “thought-provoking”, and (we really liked this one) “take it national” reinforces our belief in this critically important exhibit.
However, “Vanquishing the Invisible” cannot continue - or grow - its outreach without your support. We would be honored if you would take a moment to help fund this project.
There’s so much more we can accomplish if we do it together. Your support will help others attend future exhibits and continue the outreach to new audiences.
If you would like to honor Women Veterans and help educate future generations on the legacy of women in the military, please DONATE
“Women Veterans are often assumed to be spouses of a veteran. We are on a mission to change that assumption. Working together, we can not only change perceptions but bring to light the vast achievements and contributions our women veterans make every day. Impacting a woman veteran’s life not only positively changes her life, but also her family’s and the community in which she lives.” Melissa Washington, Founder of Women Veterans Alliance
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