Military Women’s Memorial Seeks to Collect and Preserve the Stories of Service of the Three Million Women Who Have Served

Arlington, VA (April 27, 2022)— The Military Women’s Memorial (MWM), the nation’s only memorial honoring all women’s military service, today announced its four, bi-partisan Honorary Co-chairs for the Memorial’s 25th Anniversary Congressional Tribute Committee: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).

“We are honored to have these leaders step forward during this milestone year for the Memorial and join us as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Military Women’s Memorial,” said Phyllis Wilson, Military Women’s Memorial president and retired Army CW5. “This important anniversary also gives us another opportunity to properly and visibly recognize every woman who has proudly worn the uniform and served our country, from the Revolutionary War to the present. We’re excited about what we have planned throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary as well as to commemorate the service of these women. Toward that end, we encourage visitors to the nation’s capital to make the Military Women’s Memorial and its education center a ‘must see’ stop not only this anniversary year but every year.”

The 25th Anniversary celebration for the Military Women’s Memorial, formerly known as the Women In Military Service For America Memorial (WIMSA), will feature a series of events and initiatives throughout the year, culminating with a weekend of events at the Memorial, the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, from October 14-16, 2022.

In February, the Military Women’s Memorial announced the launch of the “AppreSHEation Tour” that will bring its traveling exhibition, The Color of Freedom: Honoring the Diversity of America’s Servicewomen to locations across the United States.

The Military Women’s Memorial estimates that roughly 3 million women have served in and with the United States military during the nation’s history. The Memorial’s goal is to capture and preserve the story of service of every one of them in the Register, the Memorial’s digitized registry. Today, more than 300,000 women’s records of service are included in the Register and are accessible to Memorial visitors and online.

“One of our main goals during this 25th anniversary year is to add 20,000 women’s records of service to the Register,” said Wilson. “With the 300,000 records already captured, we have 2.7 million names to go – a big job but one to which we are committed. The story of women’s service to the nation will never be complete until all are registered. As a result, we are asking every servicewoman, as well as family members, friends and colleagues of servicewomen, past and present, to help these women take their rightful place in history by registering their service with the Military Women’s Memorial. The Military Women’s Memorial is a living memorial to their service and a much deserved, visible tribute to their contributions, service and sacrifice. It is the place where America says ‘thanks’ to the legions of women patriots who’ve served so proudly and well.”

Currently closed for renovation, the Military Women’s Memorial is scheduled to fully re-open to the public Memorial Day. The Memorial is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, and a major collection of military women’s stories and artifacts.

For more information on the Military Women’s Memorial and to keep updated on anniversary events, please visit www.womensmemorial.org or follow them on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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About the Military Women’s Memorial

The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. Located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, it features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories and artifacts, and engaging programs and events for all generations.

The year 2022 commemorates the twenty-five years since the Military Women’s Memorial was dedicated and opened to the public, October 18, 1997 – still America’s only major memorial to honor and tell the stories of all of the nation’s women who have served in and with our military, beginning with the American Revolution. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.