EDITOR’S NOTE — Veteran Voices is an annual week-long series introducing WYDaily readers to some of our local veterans. Each story represents a different person in the Historic Triangle communities and shares their stories of service.
WILLIAMSBURG — Amy Horton remembers her dad and growing up around the military inspiring her to serve.
“It seems like on my father’s side of the family, there was somebody who served in every generation. My dad was in the Navy, and his father was in the Navy, and his father lied about his age and was in the trenches in World War I. For me, I really wanted to carry on that tradition of service,” Horton said.
At the age of 17, Horton joined the Oregon Army National Guard. During her time, Horton worked as a journalist to cover all the various Army and Air Force National Guard units throughout Oregon.
“In any National Guard job, you usually have to do two weeks of training and serve one weekend a month. However, my service was usually spread out so I could cover all the different things going on in the units around Oregon,” Horton said.
While serving, Horton was called upon many times to cover events including storms, floods, volcanic eruptions and wildfires. Horton also spent time covering her father’s unit, the armored cavalry.
“My dad’s unit would go just outside of Boise, Idaho to a big training field and they would spend their two weeks of training out in the dirt and shooting things. I’d get to go out there and be the only girl out in the field taking photos and asking questions,” Horton recalls.
She also served as the editor of the statewide National Guard newspaper., and her photos appeared in state legislature materials showing the Oregon government what the National Guard was doing.
“I loved all the stories and interviews I did. A lot of times, many people didn’t feel like what they did was important or maybe they knew that it was important but because it was the National Guard, there’s sort of a bias against it. People think we aren’t real soldiers or airmen, even though we went through the same training as everyone else. Giving folks a chance to shine, I’d always make sure it got to their local paper too so they could be featured in their own community,” Horton said.
Horton deployed to Panama with her unit. When the unit deployed to Bosnia, however, she was still in law school and found herself staying behind to finish her degree.
“Against my wishes, my commander transferred me out so that I could finish my last semester of law school. I spent my last tour working with the JAG office,” Horton said.
Horton now serves as the Virginia ambassador to the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM), located just outside the gates to Arlington National Cemetery. The MWM houses an education center, interactive exhibits, and a collection of stories from women in the military.
As the Virginia ambassador, Horton is reaching out to the military community in Hampton Roads to encourage sharing stories of women who are currently serving or have served in the military.
“Telling one’s story always seems like something to be done ‘later,’ and I literally had it on my to-do list last month to call a colleague to see whether she’d registered with the MWM, when I was shocked to read an article about her sudden passing. I’d love to reach my neighbors to help them tell their stories (and those of their friends and family members — both past and present). Though I may no longer wear the uniform, I’m really humbled to have the opportunity to continue to serve in this way and would very much like to reach current and former servicewomen who live in the community to help them connect with MWM and have their records and stories of service preserved and celebrated,” Horton said.
There is no cost to be involved or researched by the MWM and Horton simply wants to help preserve the history of women in the service.
“I figured that if I shared my story, maybe other women would be encouraged to tell their stories,” Horton said.
For more information on the memorial, visit womensmemorial.org.
