Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Our walk today was dedicated in honor of:

Army Veteran Bea Abrams Cohen, Age 105 of Los Angeles, CA.
Died May 31, 2015

Bea Cohen became an American citizen as a young woman, and spent over 70 years giving back to her adopted country.

Bea was deeply appreciative of her freedom, and became a passionate advocate for those who ensured it: American veterans.

Bea Abrams Cohen was born to a Jewish family in Romania in 1910. Bea’s father died when she was 3, and her mother remarried a man who moved the family to Fort Worth, Texas. A proud American, Bea worked at Douglas Aircraft Company in Los Angeles as a real-life “Rosie the Riveter,” producing munitions and supplies for America’s World War II effort.

Wanting to do more for the country she loved, Bea gave notice to Douglas Aircraft and joined the US Army. Douglas offered more money, but Bea was determined to serve in the American Armed Forces during World War II.

Private First Class Bea Abrams was sent to England, where she worked in the communications department and also did kitchen patrol. One of her more interesting assignments involved collecting black widow spiders so their strong webs could be used as crosshairs in submarine periscopes.

Bea’s love for America extended to the national pastime, and during her years in the military she played on a woman’s baseball team.

After the war ended, Bea returned to LA, where she met and married Ray Cohen, a Marine gunnery sergeant and former prisoner of war in Japan.

Ray suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and their home life was not easy. With Bea’s encouragement, they both joined a veterans support group, and Bea immediately realized she had found her life’s mission: taking care of American veterans and making sure they are not forgotten.

For the next 70 years, Bea Cohen did whatever she could to support American veterans. She took upholstery classes so she could make robes, blankets and wheelchair bags for disabled veterans, and she collected thousands of pairs of socks for homeless veterans.

Bea was chairwoman for child welfare for the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary, and volunteered at the Los Angeles Air Force Base for Family Services, as well as City of Hope hospital.

Lindsey Sin, director of Women Veterans Affairs in California said of Bea, “She was an invaluable point of light for women veterans, and men. She continued to give back over and over again.”

Despite becoming legally blind in 1990, Bea continued to volunteer for 25 more years. Bea Abrams Cohen died on May 31, 2015 at 105 years old. Her daughter said, “She wasn’t ready. She always said there was still more to do. Mother just always felt that she wanted to help other people. It made her feel good.”

We had a great 5.32 Mile walk today. We walked up town to the War Memorial Park and back. What a beautiful day to be outdoors. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us today and I want to thank everyone who honked and waved and saluted in helping us honor this hero today. We had 221 honks. it was amazing. Thank you

Army Veteran Bea Abrams Cohen will not be forgotten !