, ▁to ▁expand ▁representation ▁available ▁to ▁veter ans , ▁and ▁to ▁establish ▁a ▁Court ▁of ▁V eter ans ▁App e als . ▁ ▁Through out ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁A VC ▁also ▁focused ▁their ▁attention ▁on ▁the ▁unders erved ▁women ▁veter ans . ▁ ▁Their ▁efforts ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁a ▁Women ▁V eter ans ▁Ad vis ory ▁Committee ▁at ▁the ▁V eter ans ▁Administration ▁and ▁a ▁new ▁department ▁focused ▁on ▁the ▁needs ▁of ▁women ▁veter ans . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁there ▁was ▁a ▁shift ▁in ▁focus ▁to ▁the ▁veter ans ▁returning ▁from ▁the ▁G ulf ▁War , ▁national ▁service , ▁and ▁equality ▁for ▁g ays ▁in ▁the ▁military . ▁ ▁The ▁last ▁two ▁chap ters ▁closed ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁These ▁were ▁the ▁Washington ▁D . C . ▁chapter , ▁and ▁the ▁Chicago ▁area ▁chapter ▁led ▁by ▁Jerry ▁Knight ▁of ▁Park ▁Forest , ▁IL . ▁ ▁Notable ▁members ▁▁ ▁Charles ▁L . ▁Bol te ▁( 1 8 9 5 – 1 9 8 9 ), ▁general , ▁US ▁Army ▁ ▁Evans ▁Carl son ▁( 1 8 9 6 – 1 9 4 7 ), ▁brig ad ier ▁general , ▁US MC ▁ ▁Med gar ▁E vers ▁( 1 9 2 5 – 1 9 6 3 ), ▁civil ▁rights ▁activ ist ▁ ▁Mer le ▁Hans en ▁( 1 9 1 9 – 2 0