Military Women's Memorial

CELEBRATING THE HELLO GIRLS and the passing of the legislation awarding the Hello Girls the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during World War I. During World War I, nearly all switchboard operators in the US were women, trained by AT&T, many just up the road from the Military Women's Memorial at Fort Meade. Yet when the American Expeditionary Forces deployed to France, they used male personnel to staff these vital parts of the telephone network. When General Pershing arrived, he issued a personal request for a small unit of women to serve as switchboard operators and real-time translators so that French and American officers could coordinate under fire. More than 7,600 women volunteered for the first 100 slots. Eventually, 223 women and 2 men would serve in France in the Signal Corps Telephone Operator Unit (Female) - known as the "Hello Girls." They were the first unit of women to directly contribute to combat operations in American history. After supporting combat operations in France, they returned home to learn they were “civilian contractors” instead of soldiers. They were ignored for decades and forgotten by history. For almost 60 years, the surviving unit members petitioned Congress for the same veterans recognition afforded to their male colleagues and female Army nurses. Finally, in 1977, Congress passed a law paving the way for the Hello Girls to be recognized as full veterans of the US Armed Forces. Unfortunately, only a few Hello Girls were still alive. In December 2024, nearly 50 years later, the President signed legislation awarding the Hello Girls the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States Congress. This extraordinary recognition by our Congress and the nation is a fitting close to the Hello Girls’ journey – a 100-year-plus journey of service, sacrifice, and an unyielding determination to receive the recognition they so well deserve. The Military Women's Memorial honors and celebrates these genuine American heroes, the members of the groundbreaking World War I Signal Corps Telephone Operator Unit (Female) members – America’s first soldiers – the Hello Girls. We are proud to preserve their legacy and share their stories of service at their Memorial - the Military Women's Memorial. #TheHelloGirls #womenshistorymonth #HelloGirls #HerMemorial #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember

Join us NOW (Noon ET) for the premier episode of the Hello Girls Podcast, produced by Wreaths Across America Radio! World War I Centennial Commission members Day Dayton and Russ Orban kick off our series to chat about these amazing trailblazers who joined the war effort as part of the Army Signal Corps in 1918. Then tune in this evening between 6 and 9 PM ET as we bring you coverage of a special Hello Girls Ceremony from the Military Women's Memorial! Click here to listen: https://lnkd.in/e5G23NAU

TODAY AT 1PM ET - ihr.fm/3JVmmiO CELEBRATE HER SERVICE JOIN US as every Wednesday at 1PM ET for our Military Women's Memorial HER Story: 3 Million Servicewomen’s Stories podcast hosted by Military Women's Memorial President Phyllis Wilson. Our Her Story podcast is another step forward to broaden our reach and support our mission to Honor and Remember the some 3 million women who’ve served and to Educate and Empower the public with the stories and experiences of America’s women patriots. “HER Story: 3 Million Servicewomen’s Stories” can be heard exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio each Wednesday afternoon at 1 pm EST. Wreaths Across America Radio is available on the iHeart Radio app, TuneIn, the Audacy app, and at https://lnkd.in/dXVTXTp We are grateful to Wreaths Across America Radio for being a dedicated partner in sharing the stories of service and invaluable contributions of all women who serve our nation. You can also listen to past episodes of HER Story podcasts here: https://bit.ly/3Y4V4wJ #MWMHerStoryPodcast #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember #WeAreMWM #wreathsradio #militarywomen #WomensHistoryMonth #marchwithmwm

JOIN US - MARCH 23 at 1PM Free Tickets - https://lnkd.in/eCSVcrrH The Military Women’s Memorial is partnering with Travis Manion Foundation and The Library of Congress Veterans History Project on “Operation HER story,” a special collaborative initiative and Women’s History Month event focused on the importance and impact of telling your story. Join us, in-person or virtually, for this special event with keynote remarks and panel discussion among well-known authors, historians, archivists, and military veterans as they discuss the importance and impact of telling our stories. Through their stories, experience, and expertise, each panel member will provide a unique perspective and highlight not only the importance of telling our stories, but also the lasting impact. For many reasons, military women are less likely to tell their stories. Our speakers and panel members will address this reluctance among military women with the hope of encouraging and inspiring us to find our voice and share our story. SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS Special Remarks: LTC (Ret) Marilla Cushman, USA; Military Women’s Memorial Monica Mohindra, Director, Library of Congress Veterans History Project Keynote speaker: MG (Ret) Mari K. Eder, USA; Speaker; Author of “The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line” Panel Moderator: Kerry Ward, Library of Congress Veterans History Project Panelists: Lena Andrews, Author of “Valiant Women,” associate research professor in the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and an affiliate of the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) COL (Ret) Edna Cummings, USA; 6888 Champion; Author of “A Soldier's Life: A Black Woman's Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion” (release May 2025) Britta Granrud, Curator and Director of Collections, Military Women’s Memorial Tracy Salzgeber, USMC Veteran, Author of “The Girl in the Gun Club: My Time as One of the Few Good Men” Special Remarks: Jonathan Tennis, Army Veteran, Military Community Champion #WomensHistoryMonth #YourStoryMatters #OperationHERstory

MILITARY WOMEN LEAD THE WAY HONOR & REMEMBER 1LT Emily Tatum Perez HER Story from the Military Women's Memorial National Register "2LT Emily J.T. Perez was born into a military family in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1983; and moved to Ft. Washington, MD, in 1998. She realized her lifelong dream of becoming a soldier when she was accepted to the US Military Academy at West Point after she completed high school. Nicknamed "Kobe," she rose to the top of her class at West Point and became the first minority female Cadet Command Sergeant Major in the history of the academy. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and was commissioned in 2005. An avid reader, 2LT Perez joined the Army's Medical Service Corps because she wanted to help people. She was assigned to the Army's 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Ft Hood, TX. She deployed with her unit to Iraq in December 2005. 2LT Perez died when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee in Al Kifl, Iraq, on September 12, 2006." Every day, we remember the dedication, the service, and the sacrifice of our military women. Emily's portrait hangs in our Foundation and Memorial, her story of service is shared in our "Color of Freedom" exhibit, her MWM Register profile is displayed with care inside a remembrance book in our Hall of Honor, and a yellow ribbon with her name and photo hangs in her memory in the Register at the Memorial. She will not be forgotten - her life will continue to be celebrated at her Memorial and we will continue to share her story so that all may know Emily, her service, and her sacrifice. 2LT Emily Tatum Perez' story of service is part o our "Color of Freedom, Honoring the Diversity of America's Servicewomen" exhibit. Emily is highlighted in the exhibit's "The Price of Freedom" section. - https://bit.ly/4876B1D #HerMemorial #WeAreMWM #WomensHistoryMonth #militarywomenleadtheway #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Military Women's Memorial! We scoured our National Register to find stories of service that mention St. Patrick's Day. *Read to the end. So Very True! PVT BELLE LUCILLE PARKER, ARMY WAAC This is HER Story from the Military Women's Memorial National Register. "On St Patrick's Day, March 17, 1943, I enlisted in the WAAC after watching New York City's inspiring St Patrick's Day parade. A WAAC recruiting station was on the parade route. My husband, Wallace, was overseas with the 9th Infantry Division. Perhaps I could follow him, I thought. At the appointed time and day, I met WAAC officers at Pennsylvania Station, N.Y.C. where, with many other recruits from New York City and Long Island areas I boarded my first troop train which took us to Camp Ruston, Ruston, Louisiana. We became Company One of Camp Ruston. Company One members arrived in the Louisiana spring heat, wearing spring wool suits, typical apparel for a northeastern spring in the 1940s. We had expected to receive WAAC summer uniforms when we arrived. No uniforms were available because something went wrong with the shipment to this new WAAC Basic Training Camp. We were taken, by Army trucks, to the town of Ruston where we each bought 2 cotton house dresses for less than $2.00 each, at Penney's. We wore these dresses about the camp until our uniforms arrived. Special Service produced a musical show titled, "Lets Get Together." I became a member of the chorus and enjoyed attending the rehearsals. It was fun singing with the group and dancing a few steps. On the evening of May 5th, 1943, the Recreation Hall was completely filled with WAACs and Soldiers. We enjoyed the resounding applause as the curtain came down and we took our bows. May 14th, 1943 was the first anniversary of the WAACs. All companies from Camp Ruston marched proudly thru the main streets of Ruston in celebration. During May 1943, we were honored with a visit from the Director of the WAAC, Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby. For over fifty years I have continued friendships with two women I met in WAAC basic training and with a 3rd woman I met on the troop train enroute from Louisiana to Ft Dix, NJ where we served together. As the saying goes, "Served together. Friends forever." #ServedTogetherFriendsForever #HerMemorial #WeAreMWM #StPatricksDay

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Military Women's Memorial! We scoured our National Register to see what stories of service we could find that mentioned St. Patrick's Day. We'll be sharing a few with you. The first has a robust memorable experience that will blow you away. We especially like the last couple lines. #change4militarywomen COLONEL HELEN O'DAY, USAF RET. This is HER Story from the Military Women's Memorial National Register "I spent 27 years in uniform and served during three wars, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Some highlights were: Being assigned as a mortuary officer, Camp Claiborne, LA, for my first assignment, then being assigned to the Pentagon with the Air Corps. Being assigned to Berlin, Germany, from August 1945-November 1947 to the Office of Military Government. I was a guest at the Commander's villa, Lake Wannsee, when General Eisenhower was guest-of-honor. He was my partner at the grand piano playing "Chopsticks." In August 1945, I was assigned as the first woman AF officer to the AF legislative liaison office in the House of Representatives. In 1952, I went to Air Command and Staff College, the only woman with 450 male majors. St. Patrick's Day, 1957, I went to New York on President Eisenhower's plane to escort the President of Ireland, Sean O'Kelly to Washington. The President met us at Andrews AFB wearing a green tie and standing on a green carpet. In 1958, I was 1 of 3 escorts with American next of kin attending dedication ceremonies at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, attended by Vice President Nixon, and we met Queen Elizabeth and her family. In July 1955, the first class at the Air Force Academy began. My office assisted with the dedication of the Academy and the first graduation in 1959. 1965-1970, I managed the reception and protocol office for the Department of the Air Force for distinguished visitors ordered to Washington. In 1966, the State Department and the Air Force provided transport from Germany to Andrews AFB for Crown Princess Beatrice of the Netherlands and her husband, Prince Claus Von Amsberg. I was their escort. In July 1967, I was retired from the AF as a Lt. Col., having served 24 years, the max possible at that grade. Immediately after retirement, I was recalled to active duty in the same assignment. In January 1968, after President Johnson signed a law removing restrictions on women being promoted to Colonel, I was promoted to the permanent rank of Colonel." #HerMemorial #militarywomenleadtheway #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember #StPatricksDay

It was an honor and pleasure to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin, his spouse Mary O'Shea Martin, and staff to the Military Women's Memorial. We were grateful for the opportunity to share the history of US women's service and contributions in defense of our Nation and discuss the vital role of women in our nation's armed forces. #EmbassyofIrelandUSA

Our Military Women's Memorial (MWM) Team is having a great time at MILITARY THROUGH THE AGES at Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello and learn more about the Memorial.... and how to register your story of service at your Memorial. https://lnkd.in/ehQgae4q #MilitaryThroughTheAges #HerMemorial #WeAreMWM

REGISTER YOUR STORY OF SERVICE - https://lnkd.in/eVKT9gdg In addition to supporting the Military Women's Memorial, GENERAL VAUGHT'S WISH is that EVERY WOMAN WHO HAS SERVED and is serving our Nation REGISTERS HER STORY of service AT HER MEMORIAL- the Military Women's Memorial or that a FAMILY MEMBER REGISTERS the story of A #WOMANVETERAN IN THEIR FAMILY who is no longer with us. GENERAL VAUGHT'S DREAM - Ensure all 3+ MILLION WOMEN who served are registered at their Memorial so that their stories of service, sacrifice, and contributions to our Nation ARE A VISIBLE PART OF AMERICA'S HISTORY. Pictured: Some of our MWM Team with General Vaught's story of service which she registered at Her Memorial. General Vaught's story of service is one of more than 323,000 stories of women's service included in The Military Women's Memorial National Register. #HerMemorial #WeAreMWM #HonorEducateEmpowerRemember #GenVaughtBday95 #SistersInService