The family of Kathleen Mae Donahue Bruyere has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor their hero for her service to her country. It will be our privilege to do so.
Captain Kathleen Mae Donahue Bruyere, USN (Ret.), 76, of Chula Vista was born to LTC Joseph Donahue, United States Army and Lucille Alessandroni Donahue of Philadelphia, PA. she died from complications of cancer Thursday, Sept. 3 at Paradise Valley Hospital in San Diego.
As a Naval Officer, Captain Bruyere was a lifelong trailblazer who won the right for women to serve aboard ships and receive equal opportunities for training and promotion in the Navy. After retirement, she selflessly continued to step up and serve veterans and the community through her volunteer work at the Miramar National Cemetery, the George G. Glenner's Alzheimer's Center, and numerous board positions at the Parkinson's Association of San Diego, and the local chapter of the Military Officer's Association of America Captains.
After graduation from Chestnut Hill College in 1966, she enlisted in the Navy and attended Officer Candidate School. While assigned to Navy Recruiting District New York, she met Naval officer Captain Thomas Bruyere and they were married in 1988.
In January 1976, Time magazine changed an annual tradition. Instead of selecting a "Person of the Year" for its cover, it featured 12, "Women of the Year." The women chosen included Billie Jean King, Carla Hills, Betty Ford and Kathy Bruyere, a 31-year-old Navy Lieutenant Commander. At the time, Captain Bruyere was the first woman to be Flag Executive Officer and Aide de Camp to a Navy Admiral.
Captain Bruyere would spend much of her career paving the way for other women to advance in their careers. In 1977, she and five other Navy women filed a class-action suit against the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy because the law prohibited women to serve on combatant ships and aircraft. As Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for women's policy, Captain Bruyere helped conduct an examination of the status of Navy women which looked at career opportunities as well as complaints of sexism. The study opened up 9,000 sea-duty and command jobs for women on 24 combatant ships.
In 1991, Captain Bruyere was selected and assigned as Commanding Officer for the Navy Recruit Training Command at Orlando, Florida. At the time, it was the Navy's only boot camp that included women. She retired from the Navy in 1994 after 28 years of exemplary selfless service.
After retirement she and husband Tom made Baltimore and eventually San Diego home. They both enjoyed volunteering, entertaining, and visiting friends and family.
Captain Bruyere is survived by brothers Joseph, Paul, Timothy and Matthew Donahue, a sister Lucia Donahue O'Dwyer, stepsons Brett, Trent and TJ Bruyere, and ten grandchildren.
IMPORTANT: ALL COVID 19 REQUIREMENTS ARE IN PLACE AT MIRAMAR NATIONAL CEMETERY, MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED AND 6 FT DISTANCING IS OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the Hero and her family from the Church to her final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Friday 9 Oct. 2020:1100 – Stage at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 293 H St., Chula Vista, CA 91910
https://goo.gl/maps/6RoMenrnvBpMZ1UY7(Please arrive quietly as a service will be in progress)
1130 – Mission Briefing
1150 – Flag Line for honorable transfer of Hero from Church to vehicle
1200 – KSU for Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr. San Diego, CA 92122 (approx 20 miles)
https://goo.gl/maps/7oQ3TqthpCT679KL71230 – Est arrival at cemetery. Flag line for honorable transfer of Hero to horse & carriage.
1300 – Flag Line for Military Honors and Funeral Service
R/C Lorenzo Lizarraga
SoCal PGR Regional Ride Captain619-971-2236
llizarraga@yahoo.com
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
