Benefit planned for female military retreat

After a successful inaugural Sisters in Arms Weekend Retreat last year, Long Beach resident and Marine Corps veteran Sgt. Ali Bardeguez-Perkins is working hard to make the female military gathering into an annual event.

Bardeguez-Perkins organized the first-of-its-kind retreat last Memorial Day weekend as a way to lift the pride and spirit of female veterans while enjoying a few days of relaxation.

Last year's retreat, which featured eight veterans, involved yoga, zumba on the beach, massage therapy and acupuncture before leading the Long Beach Memorial Day Parade as grand marshals. A benefit to fund expenses for the 19 women scheduled to take part in this year's retreat — and to assure the experience can be offered on an annual basis — is slated for Saturday at the Long Beach VFW Post 1384, at 675 W. Park Ave., at 6 p.m.

 “It's very important to be able to do this retreat every year,” said Bardeguez-Perkins, who spent five years on active duty in the Marine Corps. “We create a nice support group for the women where they can all feel comfortable sharing stories.”

 Bardeguez-Perkins is spearheading her second female veteran retreat, from May 24 to 27, at the Long Beach Hotel, nearly two months after she was recognized by County Legislator Denise Ford at the 17th annual “Women Trailblazers” award ceremony.

Her military background included two overseas deployments to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which included service in Afghanistan. She has continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves since 2011 and has been an active member of the Long Beach VFW, where she has spearheaded three Leukemia fundraisers. 

 Participants in the 2015 retreat stretch from all over the country with most of last year's pioneers returning, according to Bardeguez-Perkins. She emphasized that providing an experience like this is especially important given that statistics show more than three quarters of female veterans experience some form of sexual assault while on duty, but only a small number of veterans hospitals are equipped to handle such cases.

 “They can feel comfortable taking about their experience with us and not be judged,” said Bardeguez-Perkins, who added that she believes last year's retreat helped save a woman from committing suicide.

 The May 9 benefit features a cash bar with a $20 entrance fee that provides two raffle tickets for a 40-inch flat-screen television prize. An additional fundraiser is scheduled for the start of the retreat on Friday night May 24 at the Inn on 943 W Beech Street.

 Bardeguez-Perkins praised the Long Beach Hotel for how they have embraced the retreat by providing discounted room rates and going out of their way to make each women veteran has an enjoyable experience.

 “They are so accommodating,” she said. “They are so awesome.”