Lucy Wong is a Gilbert Veteran who served 14-years in the U.S. Navy during Operation Desert Storm and continues to give back by helping Veterans.
She is an artist, quilter, published author, and storyteller who shares her experiences about growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrant. It was difficult for her father to find work in Los Angeles, so her parents opened a Chinese Laundry. Lucy’s family lived in the back of the shop where she and her older sisters worked long hours sorting, pressing, and wrapping laundry.
After high school, Lucy joined the Navy and was on active duty as a medical lab technician and in the reserves in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. She was recalled to Desert Shield/Storm in 1990 and later worked at Camp Pendleton, California.
During her service, Lucy was exposed to chemicals which caused such a horrible autoimmune flare-up she needed a wheelchair and initially thought she had systemic lupus. She would later be diagnosed with Sjogren’s and Scleroderma, two chronic autoimmune conditions that attack the skin and organs.
Lucy didn’t give up. She bought a Kenmore sewing machine to help her relax and learned how to design clothes, quilts, wall hangings and more. Her American Flag quilt earned second place at the Phoenix VA contest and another is a finalist in the Governor’s Arts Awards 2020. Lucy also teaches art therapy to Veterans to demonstrate how creativity can help them cope with chronic illness, depression, and mental trauma.
Lucy was picked for the Veteran’s leadership program with The Missions Continues and educates the public about how Chinese families came to America and the paper son legacy. She has a dog named Dublin and an African Grey parrot named Dukie and enjoys teaching young people about birds.
It is no doubt that Lucy Wong of Gilbert, Arizona served and continues to serve her country and its residents honorably.
Help Lucy become the 2020 Forrest Anderson Military Hero Giveaway winner by voting for her. Click here to vote.