The age old adage that; "BESIDE EVERY SUCCESSFUL MAN STANDS A WOMAN"; pales in significance when compared to the role of the wives’, mothers’, sisters’ and daughters’ who care for those service disabled and prisoner of war veterans (SDV) that are enhancing their REHABILITATION through the ownership and management of a smaller business (SDVE).

Besides, the enormous burden of caring for the SDV’s life long disabilities, incurred in sacrifice for the well being of all the free world, these women are vested participants in the daily management of the SDV enterprise. Without their participation the SDVE is surely doomed to failure.

For too long has this extraordinary contribution gone unrecognized and the unique investment of Vested Women (VW) gone uncompensated.

Present legal interpretation states that the legal entitlement of the SDVE ceases when the SDV owner dies or is incapacitated, leaving the significantly invested VW with a practically totally devalued business. The actual VW role as a defacto partner and enabling force in the enterprise is discarded.

This is an unacceptable disposition of the accomplishments of the SDV and the sacrifice of the VW. Disgracing the responsibility of the nation for the sacrifices of the veterans’ unique initiative.

ASDV has responded to this gross injustice by convening the "SILVER STAR WOMEN OF AMERICA " (SSWA), an organization of the VW that are active in driving the development of the entrepreneurial rehabilitation of millions of SDV.

It is estimated that over 2,500,000 women are integral in the operation of SDVE and over 15,000,000 in all veteran owned business.

SSWA will be an active participant in the spring ASDV NATIONAL CONFERENCE in Washington, D.C. where SSWA will install its new leadership and outline its program of advocacy for SDVE.

One of the main discussions will address the legislation of "SUCCESSION" for VW who are active in SDVE.

In the words of one Vested Woman (VW); "WOMEN HAVE STOOD BY TOO LONG WHILE OUR DISABLED VETERAN LOVED ONES HAVE TAKEN ABUSE AND DISRESPECT FOR THEIR SACRIFICE FOR THIS NATION AND THEIR STRUGGLE WITH REHABILITATION.

THAT WILL NOW STOP!!"

The Association for Service Disabled Veterans (ASDV) is hosting the SSWA in Washington, DC. The council's program will be a part of the 2006 conference held by TFVE AND ASDV, which will feature programs in areas including procurement, legislation, telecommunications, and emergency medical care.

The former SDV Women’s Business Council was formed to represent the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of service disabled veteran business owners. These women have suffered with their veteran loved ones and serve as partners in their rehabilitation as owners/operators of small businesses, they have lived the sacrifice the veterans made for the prosperity and security of others.

The SSWA is organizing and leading the nation's women in an aggressive effort to insure that the government, that placed their loved ones in harm's way, also takes responsibility for assisting in the veteran business owner's struggle to fully participate in the economic system for which they so greatly sacrificed.

The focus of the council will be the implementation of Public Law 106-50; The Veteran's Entrepreneurship and Development Act of 1999, and Public Law 108-183, H.R. 3082. "Succession" of the service disabled veteran business will also be on the agenda, as well as Federal procurement strategies, and legislative advocacy with members of Congress and the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs and the U.S. General Services Administration.

ASDV National Conference, January 17-18, 2007