Sister on the Rise

Being Able To Connect With Other Females Has Empowered Me

Sisters on the Rise is more than an initiative, it’s a promise to honor the voices,experiences, and needs of women who have served. These are a foundation for building lasting community, trust, and healing, one cast, one fly, one gathering at a time.

Healing, Sisterhood, and Salmon on the Kenai

This summer, the Anchorage program proudly hosted its second annual ladies’ trip to the majestic Kenai River—a journey designed for healing, connection, and renewal among women veterans. With growing interest, they welcomed eight remarkable women whose strength, courage, and stories made this experience unforgettable. The trip began with a shared meal and heartfelt conversation. Program Lead, Sara Pate reflected, “It felt like a high school sleepover because all of us were packed into a three-bedroom suite at the lodge. The only difference from high school is we were all early to bed.” The river greeted these women with abundance, as the salmon run was at its peak. Every woman caught her limit. But the true gift was the peace that happened in the stillness of nature, the strength rediscovered in each cast, and the bonds that deepened with every shared moment.

For these women, the Kenai wasn’t just a river—it was a place to breathe, to reflect, and to reconnect with themselves and each other. The trip was a reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in silence—it can happen in laughter, in shared stories, and in the rhythm of the water. The ladies are already looking forward to next year’s journey. Until then, they carry the memories—and the community—with them.