The Women in Miltary Service for America Memorial will be dedicated at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday. The memorial features more than a dozen alcoves for exhibits, a fountain, reflecting pool, 196-seat theater, computer database of women veterans and a gift shop. It sits by a semi-circular granite wall that has four staircases through it to symbolize the women who broke through military barriers to serve. Eleven glass tablets in the roof are inscribed with quotes that “float” on the marble floor. The four days of events celebrating the memorial are expected to draw thousands of female veterans, including a 101-year-old woman from California who fought in WWI.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, who has been in charge of the project since its inception in 1986, said “When you look at the contribution of women and you see how what they did supported our armed forced, then you have to say it was meaningful and should be honored and recognized.”
For more information, call 1-800-4-SALUTE.
