RACINE, WI – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) announced Racine veteran Sister Linda “Sister Sarge” McClenahan as the recipient of the First Congressional District’s 2025 Veteran of the Year Award.
First Congressional District 2026 Veteran of the Year Award Winner: Linda McClenahan
Sgt. McClenahan, nicknamed “Sister Sarge,” grew up in California, and planned to join a convent upon graduating high school in 1967. After her brother was drafted into the Marines she felt called to serve in a different way: by enlisting in the Army. Sgt. McClenahan joined the Women’s Army Corp and after basic training, shipped out to Vietnam as a communications operator. She quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the 1st Signal Brigade in Long Binh.
She returned from Vietnam in 1970 and served another 6 years in the Army Reserves before she would join the Racine Dominican Sisters in 1992. Sgt. McClenahan later began treatment for her own PTSD and saw the need for help that a new generation of veterans needed. She would go on to obtain a master’s degree in counseling from UW-Whitewater & has been organizing and leading retreats focused on PTSD for veterans for nearly two decades.
“We are grateful to the brave men and women who have served our country and protected our liberties and freedoms. It is my honor to present Sergeant McClenahan with the Veteran of the Year Award. Her dedication to her country and community truly exemplifies what it means to serve,” said Steil.
Background:
The recipient of this award was nominated by Wisconsin residents and selected by Wisconsin’s First Congressional District’s Veterans Advisory Board by reviewing the following criteria:
SERVICE: Demonstrate a commitment to service in their community. This could be through advocacy, community projects, an act of heroism, or other actions.
EXCELLENCE: Provide an example of how this veteran exudes a spirit of excellence.
DEDICATION: Have a dedication to supporting their fellow veterans and building bridges between veterans and our greater Southeast Wisconsin community.
Nominees had to be a veteran of one of the five Armed Forces of the United States, including Reserve or National Guard, or United States Merchant Marines. All nominees had to supply a DD-214 and live within Wisconsin’s First Congressional District.
For more photos from the event, click here.
