LOWELL, Mich. (WOOD) — The Kent County Veterans Honor Guard will soon have its first female commander. Courtney Peden, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, will assume the role in June.
“We are a group of about 90 men and women veterans who perform on average 600 veteran funerals a year,” Peden told News 8.
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Peden is the Vice Commander of the group and was also the first female to serve in that position. She says it is an honor to serve with the organization and provide the final salute to veterans who served their country.
“I was in the Navy for two years. I was a cryptologist, so I worked on radar signals and missiles,” Peden said. “As female veterans, we hold such a small percentage of the veteran community, so knowing that I had earned the respect of my peers this much to be placed into such an important role really truly meant the world to me.”
She has worked her way into a leadership role and worked in a variety of positions.
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“I have come up and saluted the flag with the family. I have done the bugle, and I have played officer of the day. We try to switch up the roles as much as possible and get everybody a chance to do all the different parts that they can. Other than the sergeants, they carry the rifles for us,” Peden said.
She says being involved in the honor guard keeps her connected with the veteran community.
“You form a very strong bond with the people that you serve with, and after you serve you understand the sacrifices that it takes and the part of you that you give when you serve,” Peden said. “Being able to be there for that veteran and their families as they’re being laid to rest is so important because it lets that family know that they are respected and honored by more than just them.”
She hopes more women consider serving in the honor guard and in the military.
“Women are becoming more and more prevalent in the military and for young girls considering going in, I say take the adventure,” Peden said. “It is definitely something you won’t regret. It takes you all over the world and it teaches you things that you just can’t get in the regular civilian world.”
