The poem below is titled “Invisible Veteran” and was authored by Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin (USAF, Ret.). The accompanying artwork was completed by Maj. Christina Helferich-Polosky (U.S. Army, Ret.). Both artists have deployed in uniform overseas and have accomplished an impressive number of feats and published works. 

It should be understood that the work below encompasses two forms of extraordinary artistic expression: an emotionally moving poem and a profound form of visual depiction. “Invisible Veteran” is from Lisa’s book, Latina Warrior, in the Reflections section of the book, from both her as the Poet and Christina Helferich-Polosky as the Artist.

According to Lisa: 

“My book, Latina Warrior, is an autobiography told through poems, prose, and art. I partnered with another woman combat veteran who illustrated all the poems in the book with original art. The poems fall into the following categories: Early Years y Familia, The Military and Combat, Life After the Military and Healing and the Road to Authenticity. There are poems about making family, growing up as a military brat, tamales, combat, PTSD, sexual assault, divorce, therapy, etc. Nothing was off the table; it is the most real, authentic I have ever been. Many of the works included have helped others in their own healing journey.

“This poem had been swimming inside my head for quite some time. Thoughts of it came to me every time I had to go to a Veterans Affairs appointment in person, or when I was at an event that focused on veterans. I just felt that at times I was invisible, as a woman who had served her country. That no one really saw me or acknowledged my contribution. Many times, I would look around at the physical surroundings that I was in and only see pictures of white men in uniform looking back at me. My invisibility was even more pronounced as I am a woman of color, a Latina. Never quite fitting in with what most consider to be the image of a veteran or a combat veteran.

“‘Invisible Veteran’ captures how I really feel as a woman veteran, among a culture and community that still diminishes my service. I was honored to have ‘Invisible Veteran’ be part of the unveiling of the VA’s new, more inclusive mission statement in early 2023. I love that Christina immediately saw herself in this poem. It truly resonated with her, and she used herself in the art as the ‘Invisible Veteran.’ As a poet, I cannot be more honored when my art resonates with others, especially when they can see themselves in my words.”

The artwork by Helferich-Polosky provides a powerful, complementary reflection of the post-military experience from a woman’s perspective. The artist describes in more detail: 

“‘Invisible Veteran’ is a 48” x 30” mixed media acrylic collage and one of the very first collaborations that Lisa and I did together, before Latina Warrior. My process was taking a picture from my Afghanistan deployment with the CJTF-101 in 2008 and painting a very quick palette knife self-portrait, leaving the face blank. I then scribbled the lines of the poem, like bathroom stall graffiti, behind the figure, like white noise in the background of the portrait—to argue with the viewer, leaving the final line, the refrain of the whole poem on the face…do you see me? The almost-life-size-ness of the portrait challenges the viewer with the final question that one can no longer avoid: Is it deliberate or ignorance?”

Lisa is the CEO/Founder of Carrington Firmin LLC, and is the award-winning author of Stories from the Front: Pain, Betrayal, and Resilience on the MST Battlefield and Latina Warrior. She is a co-author of the international best-selling Amigas RISING: Lifting Others as We Climb, and co-editor for the Veteran Book Initiative, Blue Ear Books. To learn more about Lisa and her various works, please visit: https://www.lisacarringtonfirmin.com/. 

Invisible Veteran

By Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin, USAF Ret.

Do you see me?

You look beyond me and speak as if I am not even here

But I am standing right in front of you

Do you see me?

 You acknowledge the male veteran next to me with your gratitude and respect

But you ignore my service and sacrifice

Do you see me?

 You assume I’m someone’s wife, daughter, sister, mother, or grandmother

But I served too

Do you see me?

You revert to your default setting that only men are warriors

But I am a combat veteran who is also a woman

Do you see me?

 You downplay my contribution, unaware that women serve

But my sacrifice and valor were equal to or greater than some men

Do you see me?

You force me to work at gaining your respect

But haven’t I already earned that?

Do you see me?

You still fail to identify or recognize me. I wonder if it is deliberate or ignorance

But my invisibility as a woman vet speaks volumes. Are you listening?

By Christina Helferich-Polosky, U.S. Army Veteran

Copyright © Lisa Carrington Firmin/Poem from Latina Warrior, Blue Ear Books, October 2023. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author or the publisher. 

Note: The Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus was granted permission in November 2025 by Col. Carrington Firmin to share “Invisible Veteran.”

U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.

The VMF Caucus, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries. 

For questions pertaining to this statement, please reach out to 
[email protected].