HELP US FINISH THE MISSION

For years, I have been working to tell a story I believe the world needs to see: the extraordinary contributions of women serving in our nation's military.

Through Defending Democracy, I have brought their stories to life through portraiture and documentary filmmaking. These are women who lead, navigate treacherous waters, conduct critical scientific research, protect our shores, and carry out missions essential to our national security. Their professionalism, courage, and dedication deserve to be seen, understood, and remembered.

Now, we are ready to take the next step.

Our first "Sisters in Arms" film follows women of the U.S. Coast Guard on real missions, capturing their work as it unfolds, with no reenactments and no manufactured drama. The outcome is never guaranteed. The stories are real, and the women are remarkable.

We have already proven the concept.

Our documentary short, Breaking Ice, has earned multiple awards and an EMMY nomination, demonstrating the power of this approach to storytelling. The project has been funded largely out of my own pocket, along with the generosity of early supporters who believe these stories matter.

But I cannot bring this film across the finish line alone.

We need our community to help complete the first full-length film, share it with wider audiences, and establish a foundation for the "Sisters in Arms" documentary series. Our vision is to tell these stories across all six branches of the U.S. military, creating an enduring record of the women whose service helps defend our country and the freedoms we cherish.

Will you help us finish the mission?

Every contribution, whatever its size, brings us closer to completing this film and sharing these women's stories with the world.

Thank you for believing in this work, for standing with the women who serve, and for helping ensure their contributions are never overlooked.

With gratitude,

Mary Ellen Scherl
Founder, Defending Democracy
Portraits of U.S. Military Women on Canvas and Film