Fatigues Clothesline is a project that stemmed from my own participation in a local clothesline event. The validation I received for being heard in such a discreet manner made me realize maybe the majority of Military Sexual Trauma survivors may feel the same way I do. I didn’t tell my story for many years, I may have hinted them but never gone the full length of telling what and the degree of what I gone through while serving.
What I’m about to say may offend you and I apologize, I did not intend to. When it comes to war, men and woman know the impact it carries. We know we may end up dying or watch people die for freedom. It’s to be expected. I didn’t sign up to be raped by my fellow Marines who took the same oath of Honor, Courage and Commitment as I did. I did not expect this. This is why I am doing my project. It’s not right that woman and men have to tolerate such atrocities and it needs to be dealt with in order to keep our future leaders and their families safe.
Keep in mind, it does not only affect the survivor, it also affects the family!
It's not something we learned and stood for, but it's something that was taken from us. We carried all the sexual harassments and being raped on the inside while carrying out our duty with honor… When I put that uniform on, I turned into super woman. I hide what happened to me in order to carry out my service. in order to serve and protect our nation. I stomached what happened and still honored what I learned through the military. Military Sexual Trauma took from us; it sucks out everything we are supposed to stand for. It is time for us to be heard.
When you see a woman or man in uniform it is not the gender that matters. It is the branch of service we represent, The Marine Corps, The Army, The Navy, The Air Force and Coast Guard who is in uniform for we earned that title so respect it.
Semper Fidelis
My Sisters and Brothers in Arms
I have great love For Our country
Regina Vasquez
United States Marine Corps Veteran
