Forum sponsored by Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs gives those who served an opportunity to connect with friends, families and the community.

MIDDLETOWN — People thank Denise Miller’s husband all the time for serving in the armed forces. And several times when she has presented her military benefit card at doctor’s offices, she’s been asked for her husband’s information.

“People don’t think of a veteran as a female,” said Miller, now a Tiverton resident, who graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1994 and served in the Air Force from 1998 to 2006. Her first deployment was to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch. She served in security forces and also provided intelligence support.

“I’ve had people tell me that females don’t belong in the military,” she said. She has also been told she’s too young to be a veteran.

Miller was the only female among the 14 military veterans who spoke about their service experiences at a forum Saturday at Middletown Town Hall.

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Photo by Steve Szydlowski.