As part of Women’s History Month, the Military Women's Memorial celebrates the recent Congressional Gold Medal designation for the 223 women whose role was instrumental in World War I.
Phyllis Wilson, the president of the Military Women's Memorial, and her staff are sharing the stories of women veterans well over 100 times this month covering every state in America.
“This month — Women’s History Month — in particular, we have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on what those women have done and what they're doing today in defense of this country,” said Wilson, who served 37 years in the Army. “It's been really powerful. It's done my soul good to be out there and talking about the importance of women veterans."
A highlight of the month was March 19, when the memorial hosted a celebration for the “Hello Girls,” who received the Congressional Gold Medal designation late last year. The American Legion supported the congressional recognition for the 223 women whose role in the Army Signal Corps was instrumental during World War I.
Family members of several Hello Girls attended the tribute. Among them was Carolyn Timbie, the granddaughter of the de facto leader of the Hello Girls, Grace Banker (Paddock).
"It has been long overdue,” Timbie said. “For me as a descendant, I just have such immense pride in these women. The process and the journey with my team to see that we've actually seen it through, seen it to gold, and here tonight to celebrate is just beyond words."
Not only did the Legion play an instrumental role in the passage, but it welcomed Banker when she returned from Europe after the war concluded. Banker joined American Legion Signal Post 343 in New York, and later was a member of Post 161 in Passaic County, New Jersey.
"Their story, along with the support of The American Legion, has brought to light the importance of women and that women can be role models,” Timbie said. “Her service with The American Legion is now continuing the story to get women recognized."
The memorial, located just inside Arlington National Cemetery, held other events during the month to commemorate the service of women veterans. Those included screenings of documentaries about the Hello Girls and the “Six Triple Eight,” Black women who served during World War II; efforts to collect and preserve the stories of women veterans; and more.
To date, the memorial has over 320,000 stories in their digital database, but that represents only 10% of the total number of women who have served. (Register yourself or a woman veteran you know in this database.)
Still, Wilson vows to continue her work honoring women veterans beyond March.
“The momentum must continue,” she says, recalling a woman veteran she met recently. “It’s our women veterans who make my heart so happy. A woman who’s 105 years old who served in World War II, and to this day she still says that those couple of years when she served in uniform were her best years. She wishes she could do it all over again. That is what’s important — to recognize that spirit every day and every month, not just in March. We've got to celebrate them every day.”
- Honor & Remembrance