Women’s History Month this year was commemorated with an event at the Memorial for Women In Military Service for America, at Arlington Cemetery on March 27.
The president of the Women’s Memorial Foundation, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, welcomed participants to the site, which is the only major national memorial honoring women who have served the United States in all eras and services.
Organized by WID’s capital chapter, more than a dozen women’s associations came together to highlight missions and collaborate on major achievements that are being accomplished by women today. The associations represented women in defense, engineering, technology, business, international and homeland security, contract management, science and aerospace.
An honored guest was retired Lt. Col. Luta Mae Cornelius McGrath, who entered the Army on March 1, 1943, before the Women’s Army Corps was established.
Representatives from two local museums, the National Women’s History Museum and the American Wartime Museum, also participated. The film, “Call To Serve,” was shown prior to a guided tour of the museum depicting the contribution of women defending the United States from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts.
Attendees agreed that this should be an annual event to include new partners and role models in defense and national security.
Image above. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, president of the board of directors of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation Inc., is pictured March 27 at Arlington Cemetery with Women In Defense members. From left to right are: Camilla White, Margaret DiVirgilio, Brenda McKinney, Patricia Ward, Eileen Giglio, Vaught, Kecia Reyes, Linda McKnight and Leslie Smith.