Grethe Cammermeyer, whose inspiring life story was made the subject of a major film, steps right up and puts her message on the line in the state of Washington:

"I'm running for the U.S. Congress in Washington's 2nd Congressional District because I want to help build a better America for my kids and grandchildren," she says.

Former Colonel Cammermeyer, who, after a 26-year military career refused to lie—during a routine clearance-- to Security officials about herself as a lesbian, was discharged and then—due to wise, effective strategies— the Army found itself in retreat and was forced into rehiring her.

Among earlier honors bestowed on her, Cammermeyer became a recipient of the Bronze Star for having saved the lives of soldiers during 14 months of the Vietnam conflict. She has a Ph.D. in Nursing and has spent 31 years as a nurse in the U.S. Army. "Nursing is the most important job in the world," she said. "It taught me to listen to the human voice, its words and silences, fears and dreams."

"I believe our families deserve affordable, quality health care," she continues, talking about real issues that mean as much to her as they do to Washington state's 2nd Congressional District:

"I believe we must fund programs to keep our schools safe and to ensure our children are learning. I believe we owe it to ourselves, our parents and our grandparents to save Social Security and Medicare first. I'm frustrated with leaders who don't fight for our kids, our health care or our security."

Grethe Cammermeyer arrived from Oslo, Norway, setting foot in the U.S. at the age of nine. Enlisting in the army, she feels, was a way to "repay" America for the work it provided her immigrant father and for the home where she'd grown into young adulthood.

She stays in close touch with her four sons and their five grandchildren. Her sensibilities as a mother have been a natural part of her appeal. But what is at once so charming and disarming about Cammermeyer is her fervent patriotism:

"With patriotic gratitude, I put my hand over my heart and pledged allegiance to the flag," she said of her swearing in as a citizen in 1960, "No other country in the world had ever done so much to ensure freedom and justice."

In Vietnam, Cammermeyer did not take part in actual combat. Instead, she carefully handled its results. Close to the front lines stood the stalwart Grethe, healing.

In 1985, this remarkable person was chosen out of 34,000 nurses in the VA to receive the first Administrations' Award for Excellence in Nursing.

Find out more about Grethe Cammermeyer's campaign for Washington's 2nd Congressional District: Website: http://www.cammermeyer.com/