RADM (Ret) Train Headlines American Legion Post 24’s Women’s History Month Celebration

RADM (Ret) Liz Train was the perfect guest speaker for American Legion Post 24’s Women’s History Month celebration on 21 March, as this year’s theme was "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”   Several NIP members and friends of RADM Train showed up to hear her talk and join in the celebration.

RADM Train spoke about the three key roles she has had that shaped who she is today: a conservationist, Naval Intelligence officer, and a mother. Her strong advocacy of the environment and protecting that environment goes back to her post-high school years when she took a gap year before college to hike the entire Appalachian trail alone. Following that trek, she felt she was still missing something that gave her purpose, so she joined the Navy during a time that was particularly challenging for women. Over the course of her 33-year career, she paved the way for women who followed her, although she also acknowledged mentors who she credits for providing her the opportunities to succeed, in particular VADM (Ret) Jake Jacoby (who was in the audience). She became a mother of two boys early on in her career as a Naval Intelligence officer, and she spoke about the challenge of encountering individuals in the Navy who questioned her ability to balance motherhood with her Navy career. Ultimately she overcame the stigma and proved that you don’t have to sacrifice one to do the other. Although she was heavily decorated from all her accomplishments while in uniform, she is most proud of the men her boys have become and her 5 grandchildren who will undoubtedly do great things for our planet in the future!

After she retired as a two-star admiral, she was able to refocus her time and energy on her passion for nature and conservation, becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist. She is now the president of the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park, an advocacy group for a 1,500-acre wetlands wildlife sanctuary in Fairfax County. A recent article in the College of William and Mary Alumni magazine featured RADM Train’s journey, much of which she discussed at the Women’s History Month event.

Proceeds from the event on 21 March will benefit the Post 24 Auxiliary Unit’s Virginia Girls State program. Several NIP members are also members of Post 24. The Post was chartered in 1920, just one year after The American Legion veterans’ service organization itself was chartered.  Post 24 is located at Gadsby’s Tavern, a famous historic landmark and the oldest Post home in the Legion.  More historical information is available on the Post website.