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Gratitude for Heroism

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Optum Serve is proud to recognize female Service Members and Veterans.

Nominate your hero today

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Recognizing our heroes

At Optum Serve, we believe in recognizing the selfless contributions of female Service Members and Veterans. Their service and courage are truly inspirational.

To shine a light on these heroes, LTG (Ret) Patricia D. Horoho, CEO of Optum Serve, established the Gratitude for Heroism initiative to recognize and honor them.

Take a moment and nominate your special Veteran or Service Woman to receive a Women of Valor brooch and $150 pamper-yourself gift card today. Drawings will be held monthly.

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Honoring Women of Valor

Women have worn brooches throughout history to represent a cause close to their heart. General Horoho partnered with renowned jewelry designer Ann Hand to craft this original piece, filled with symbolism and beauty, to recognize and celebrate the patriotic female Service Members and Veterans across our nation.

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Women Military Members and Veterans Are Honored

Speaker 1 (00:00):

Since the American Revolutionary War, women have been serving our great nation. Women are a fundamental and growing part of our nation's armed forces. Today, women represent 10% of military veterans and 16% of active duty military. But, one thing is very clear. 100% of these women are heroes. Every single woman has a rich and unique story about her service to our country. Now is the time to recognize women's contributions in a meaningful way by sparking the conversation, listening, and allowing it to inspire and light the way for many others to follow in her footsteps.

Speaker 1 (00:44):

OptumServe's work started with Lieutenant General Patty Horoho's desire to show these women gratitude for their heroism by developing a brooch that honors and represents the women of valor who have proudly worn the uniform of our nation. Acclaimed jewelry designer Ann Hand, often referred to as the nation's jeweler, designed this formal commemorative brooch as well as a companion lapel pin to wear for more casual occasions. This piece is rich with symbolism in its conceptualization to ensure that all branches of the U.S. military are honored.

Speaker 1 (01:23):

General Horoho's vision for the creation of this brooch is a deeply personal one and has been several years in the making. Finally, on June 12th, 2021, her vision came to fruition and General Horoho debuted the brooch at a ceremony at the Military Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. Here is her story.

General Horoho (01:47):

I'm proudly wearing the newly designed forget me not flower which serves as a symbol honoring women who have served this country or are currently serving. My father was a veteran of World War Two, Korea and Vietnam, and when he would be out wearing a ball cap with the Army insignia and someone would approach him and thank him for his service, he would sit a little taller, raise his head a little higher, and smile a little broader. You could see the recognition of what it meant to him and how it brightened his day. As his daughter, it made me proud to see others honor him for his service, but it also occurred to me that women did not have something that uniquely honored their military service.

General Horoho (02:36):

For quite some time, I wanted to create a beautiful symbol that could be displayed as a beautiful piece of jewelry that women veterans and active duty military could wear with pride to show others that they've served or are serving this country, or could be displayed on other items such as ball caps, tee shirts and other items of choice. It was important to me that this symbol first be displayed on a brooch honoring women who have worn the uniform of this country. But, I also hope that we'll encourage connections and nurture conversations. I really want the symbol to grow into a symbol that is recognized by others and recognize [inaudible 00:03:20] selfless service, courage and valor of these women so that others in turn can express their gratitude.

General Horoho (03:29):

I worked with world renowned jewelry designer Ann Hand, who designed this brooch. The brooch is a forget me not flower that is purple to represent a composite of the United States military colors. At the center of the brooch is a beautiful pearl that represents femininity, loyalty and integrity. The center star and letter V on the tips of the leaves represents victory, valor and veteran. I think that veterans sharing accounts of their service are an important part of the healing process, and while each person is a bit different, I want veterans and service members to feel empowered to tell their individual story.

General Horoho (04:15):

Also, those who have never served can have an understanding of and appreciate the selflessness that comes with being in the military. I hope, too, that they will be inspired. I think about our brave service members who leave their homes, children and spouses for months at a time so that all Americans can be kept safe and enjoy the freedoms we hold so dear. I think about the people who put themselves in harm's way daily and the lucky ones who come home. They're survivors, but often bear significant physical and emotional scars. I'm not sure how we truly begin to thank them for the breadth of their service to our nation, but I want to start, and it starts with listening to, honoring and sharing each and every story. Serving together. Honored to serve.

Speaker 3 (05:13):

She's my cousin. She's my hero.

Speaker 4 (05:17):

My sisters. My heroes.

Speaker 5 (05:21):

She's my daughter. She's my hero.

Speaker 6 (05:25):

She's my friend. She's my hero.

Speaker 7 (05:29):

She's my daughter. She's my hero.

Speaker 8 (05:34):

She's my mom. She's my hero.

Speaker 9 (05:37):

She is my... My cousin and my [inaudible 00:05:40] hero. Thank you, Anna.

Speaker 10 (05:43):

She's my mom. She's my hero.

Speaker 11 (05:47):

She's my mom. She's my hero.

Speaker 12 (05:50):

I love you.

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Women of Valor brooch and pin

The brooch features a hand-painted enamel forget-me-not flower with purple petals. Purple is a composite of all the military branch colors and symbolizes joint service. At its center, the white pearl represents femininity, loyalty and integrity. The gold-plated center star and letter V on the tips of the leaves stand for Veteran, victory and valor.

The companion lapel pin recognizes and celebrates patriotic women who have honorably served in the U.S. military. Wearing it helps show support for all military Service Members and Veterans.

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Women of Valor brooch

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Recognize your hero

Share a story about your favorite female Service Member or Veteran and nominate her for a beautifully designed Women of Valor brooch or lapel pin and a $150 pamper-yourself gift card. We will host monthly random drawings and special events and recognize those selected. Nominees must either be a current female Service Member or Veteran.

Nominate your hero today

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Show your gratitude for heroism

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Women of Valor brooch

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Women of Valor brooch

Honor your hero by presenting her with this hand-designed, symbolic Women of Valor brooch. Or get one for yourself to proudly represent your Military service.

Buy now

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Women of Valor lapel pin

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Women of Valor lapel pin

Support the female Veterans or Service Members in your life by honoring their service with this lapel pin. Order one for them or for yourself. Even if you haven't served in the military, you can proudly wear a lapel pin to show your support.

Buy now

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Nominate your hero today 

Fill out this form with a story about the female Service Member or Veteran you want to honor.

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Contest Rules

No purchase necessary to enter or win. All Federal, State, local and Municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited.

  1. Eligibility – The Gratitude for Heroism, Women of Valor Giveaway (the “Giveaway”) is open to legal residents of all 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Nominees must be at least 18 years old at the time of nomination, and an active-duty female member of the military or Veteran. Nominations made be made at any age. 
  2. Sponsor – the giveaway is sponsored by Optum Serve (the “Sponsor”), 11000 Optum Circle, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 
  3. Agreement to Official Rules – Participation in the Giveaway constitutes full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of the Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor which are final and binding. Winning a drawing is contingent on compliance with the official rules and fulfillment of all the other requirements set forth herein. 
  4. The contest period – Random drawings will be held each month on the 30th of the month after 8:00p.m. ET. The Giveaway program begins on May 1, 2022 at 8:00a.m. ET and ends on the 30th of each month at 8:00p.m. ET. Entries received after 8:00p.m. ET on the 30th of each month will go into the following month’s drawing. 
  5. How to enter – Entries must be made online at OptumServe.com/Nominate. Only one (1) nomination per nominator per month will be accepted. Multiple nominators may nominate the same person, however, multiple entries for the same person from the same nominator in one month will be void. Entries do not roll over month to month, so you must be nominated each month to be eligible. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Stories that are shared as part of the nomination may be used online to promote the program.
  6. Random Drawings – Each month random drawings will be held after 8:00p.m. ET on the 30th of the month. The Sponsor will select two (2) winners at random from among all of the eligible entries that month. The odds of being selected depends on the number of entries received. Entries will not roll over month to month. One randomly selected nominee will win a Women of Valor brooch and the other randomly selected nominee will win a Women of Valor lapel pin. Both winners will receive a $150.00 Pamper Yourself gift card good for use at the online Optum Store. Winners will be contacted via email. If Sponsor cannot reach winners after three (3) attempts, a new winner will be selected. 
  7. Media and Promotion - Stories that are shared as part of the nomination may be used online to promote the program. Winners may be highlighted on our website as well as in local or national press, social media or other online media. This may include shared stories or photos. By accepting the giveaway, Winners agree to potential media coverage.
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