The Philadelphia Compound Veterans Committee (PCVC) recently sponsored the annual Veteran's Day Ceremony to commemorate and honor those who have served in the U.S Armed Forces.

The ceremony garnered the attendance of more than 300 employees from Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons System Support (NAVSUP WSS) along with various other commands aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Philadelphia.

"Today we pay tribute and honor nearly 22 million of our fellow citizens who have answered the call to duty, to protect and defend our country in times of peace and war," said NAVSUP WSS's Weapons Support Director, Col. A.J. Manuel, in his opening remarks. "We must not only recognize veterans for their sacrifices and prior service, we must also recognize their contributions after leaving service as well."

Manuel went on to introduce the keynote speaker, Megan Cavanaugh, an eight year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a management analyst at the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support Philadelphia.

Cavanaugh is a huge advocate for American's veterans and has created several campaigns to support homeless veterans by sponsoring clothing drives to collect sleeping bags, blankets and boots. She has also received national media attention for her work as a Lioness and her firsthand experience as a woman in various combat support roles.

"As women in the military, we don't expect special treatment nor do we want it. We want to be acknowledged and respected for the work that we are already doing," said Cavanaugh. "The Lioness program changed my life because it allowed me to see firsthand how other cultures treat their women and react to women of other cultures. We were considered authority figures as Marines working with the Iraqi Police, and the Iraqi men did not like that. The women though, you could see sparks of light in their eyes, we were their freedom, we represented change."

Additionally, Cavanaugh shared a photo collage of her time in Iraq as a Lioness, as the Marine Corps Senate liaison non-commissioned officer, in Washington, D.C., her life as a mother, and also as a contestant in the Ms. Veteran America competition in Las Vegas.

"I'm not a pageant type of girl. I don't wear makeup or heels," said Cavanaugh. "But the Ms. Veteran America competition is all about bringing woman into focus not only as the war fighter and the veteran, but also as the mother, the daughter, the wife and the sister," Cavanaugh concluded.

The ceremony ended with command presentations from NAVSUP WSS, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and the POW/ MIA "Missing Man" Ceremony.

The Philadelphia Compound Veterans Committee (PCVC), with members from NAVSUP WSS, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, and NSA Philadelphia, fosters an environment of respect and support for the sacrifices of veterans and active duty military personnel worldwide through various ceremonies and educational programs.

A field activity of NAVSUP WSS is the U.S. Navy's supply chain manager providing worldwide support to the aviation, surface ship and submarine communities. NAVSUP WSS provides Navy, Marine Corps, joint and allied forces with products and services that deliver combat capability through logistics. There are more than 2,000 civilian and military personnel employed at its two Pennsylvania sites. The NAVSUP WSS Philadelphia site supports aircraft, while its Mechanicsburg site supports ships and submarines.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.milor www.navy.mil/local/navsup/.