In his book, Proudly She Served, Celebrating Women in Uniform, Steve Alpert exhibits a series of twelve original oil paintings and biographies of women in uniform from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services who exemplify courage, strength and selfless service and who inspire the generations of young women and men following them. Chaplain Karen Meeker is one of the twelve women featured.
About Chaplain Karen Meeker
Chaplain Karen Meeker grew up in Huntington Mills, PA. She enlisted in the Army in 1986 on a ROTC scholarship at Bucknell University, earning her commission after graduation. Meeker received her Master’s in Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 1994 and entered Active Duty as an Army Chaplain in 1997. Prior to entering active duty, Meeker served a year on the island of Dominica and three years near State College, PA with the United Methodist Church, where she is an ordained elder in the Susquehanna Conference. She has also participated in two seasons at the Leon Levy Archeological Expedition in Ashkelon, Israel. Meeker has served in numerous assignments around the world, including deployments as the Chaplain for CENTCOM Forward Jordan, as well as deployments in Korea and Stuttgart, Germany. She is currently still stationed in Germany.
She was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame in 2020 and is the Director of the Harriet Tubman Network, named after the religious and courageous leader of the Underground Railroad. This group of chaplains supports women veterans in their darkest hours, guiding them to a place of personal freedom and strength.
Among countless other awards and decorations, Meeker holds a Master Parachutist badge and was named Pathfinder School and Officer Honor Graduate at Basic Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA. Meeker is also the first woman chaplain to serve in Special Operations and the first woman chaplain jumpmaster.
Chaplain Meeker enjoys serving Soldiers and their Families through worship, preaching, discipleship, outreach, and she also enjoys competing in an occasional endurance event. She is an author for numerous publications including a devotional booklet “Staying the Course” published in Guideposts, 2018, and offers spiritual guidance and insight for combat veterans and their loved ones.
She has been described as an inspirational speaker, a phenomenal minister and a leader who truly connects easily with people and cares for them through all seasons of life and service and in the midst of any experience. She has opened doors for many.
Chaplain Karen Meeker is flying in from Germany, as Alpert’s guest, to speak at The Quogue Fire Department Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27th at 10am. The service is free and open to the public.
The Quogue Fire Department, 117 Jessup Avenue, Quogue, New York, 631-653-4620
Fabulous artist and outstanding individual.