For the last three years, Erie News Now has honored veterans and their families every Thursday night.

It's stories of service and sacrifice continues this week with the journey of Doris Philhower.

Her tour of duty in the U.S. Navy lasted over 25 years. Her inspiration for serving was her Uncle Jack, a quartermaster on a hospital ship.

"Uncle Jack pulled out some of the news clippings and it seems like he was. He never bragged about it. He played it down. And his ship was just missed," said Doris. 

When the U.S. Naval Reserve Center in Erie closed in early April, so did a portion of proud Navy veteran Doris Philhower's life, now 80 years old.

When she entered the military at age 23, times were much different for female recruits. The opportunities they have now were non-existent in the 70s.

"I hate to tell you, Mike. We females didn't go any place except on the United States continental country and we might have been over in Hawaii," said Doris. "But as far as being on a ship just like any other service that females weren't looked upon as an asset. And I guess we proved them wrong because we still get more and more females into the Navy and all the other services." 

Doris Philhower, thank you for your service.