Members of the NY-6 Corporal Ramona Valdez Chapter of the national organization Women Marines Association met for their yearly planning meeting to establish initiatives, fundraisers, and discuss new member recruitment. The New York City chapter was recently established and is named after Corporal Ramona Valdez, a Marine from the Bronx, New York who was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom when a car bomber ambushed her convoy, causing four deaths and seven severe injuries. Mercedes Elias, Head of Veteran Engagement at Amerivet Securities, is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and an active member of the Women Marines Association.