Thursday, November 20, 2008

Women in Military History Memorial

Photos by Marny Malin-Identification cards issued by the Navy in World War II are on display with military-issued memorabilia. Top right: the displays cover all aspects of what it is and was to be a woman warrior throughout the years. ABOVE: Photos of women pilots are displayed in a collection on the walls of the memorial.

The Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington cemetery honors the contributions of 2.5 million women who have served in our nation’s conflicts since 1776. The open-design, glass, concrete and steel structure is behind the Hemicycle that was dedicated as Arlington’s ceremonial entrance in 1932.

Inside, you will find the faces, uniforms and stories of countless women who have defended our country in the air, on land and by sea. While traditional displays feature uniforms, artifacts and photos, there are video stations with individual-recorded testimonies and thoughts of women patriots who have volunteered.

Some of that history is etched into glass tablets that are the skylight that give light to the halls that hold so many stories of sacrifice and bravery. One tablet reflects the quote of Clara Barton, “From the storm-lashed decks of the Mayflower … to the present hour, woman has stood like a rock for the welfare and glory of the history of the country, and one might well add … unwritten, unrewarded, and almost unrecognized.“

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the memorial that houses a library of more than 1,000 books and a growing archive of military-issue artifacts, memoirs and oral histories. The goal of the museum and foundation is to collect, preserve and make available the history of women warriors. An oral history project is underway to collect veteran narratives.

The memorial is open every day except Christmas; hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.until March 31.
For more information contact the memorial at oralhistory@womens
memorial.org or visit the site http://www.womens
memorial.org.