Preserving Her Story: Honoring Women Who Serve

© COURTESY OF MILITARY WOMEN'S MEMORIAL

Preserving Her Story: Honoring Women Who Serve

From the earliest days of the nation, women have been serving alongside men to gain and preserve liberty. Yet, although their impact is felt throughout our everyday lives, there is no record of their service in our history books. For the countless women who have served in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, their stories all too often remain untold. There was no repository of women’s service to the United States.

That all changed in April 1987. For over 30 years, the Military Women’s Memorial has been dedicated to preserving the commitment, contributions, and experiences of servicewomen— from the American Revolution to the present day.

THE BIRTH OF A MEMORIAL

The journey to establish the Military Women’s Memorial began in 1983 when World War II women veterans made their voices heard—“What about us?” they asked. “We served, too.”

Women were almost never included when the nation honored its veterans. At the same time, the American Veterans Committee (AVC), a national group of veterans, raised the issue of the lack of tribute to military women. The Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation (WIMSA), launched in 1985, was the answer to these concerns. After extensive lobbying and support from various veterans groups, the museum was opened at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.

At the heart of the memorial is the Register, where visitors can explore the stories of individual servicewomen. This interactive database holds the names, service data, experiences, awards, and photographs of over 300,000 registered servicewomen, representing less than 10 percent of the women who have served since the American Revolution.

A LEGACY RECORDED: THE REGISTER

The Register is a one-of-akind interactive database that captures the service information, photographs, and memorable experiences of registered servicewomen. Since 1987, the Register has provided a platform for women to document their military experiences, ensuring their stories are not lost to history. By contributing names and information to this database, we can preserve the legacy of over three million women who have defended the nation.

The Register invites servicewomen and women veterans to share their stories, aiming not only to honor their service but also to educate future generations about the vital roles women have played in the military.

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING

Women have served in the military since the founding of the Republic. From the story of Molly Pitcher, who served with the Continental Army during the Revolution, to the women serving today, America’s military women have long demonstrated courage, patriotism, and leadership.

As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, the Military Women’s Memorial educates and inspires through its exhibitions, collections, and engaging programs. The memorial’s mission is to honor the stories of women who have served the nation and foster a deeper understanding of their impact on American history.

The memorial also features an exhibit gallery chronicling the history of military women’s service, the Vaught Center for events, a gift shop, and the Hall of Honor, which pays tribute to servicewomen who were killed in action, died in the line of duty, held as prisoners of war, or received the nation’s highest awards for service and bravery.

The history of women’s service is incomplete until every military woman’s story is told. The memorial invites anyone who knows a servicewoman or woman veteran to take advantage of the free registration, ensuring that her story is preserved in the Register. Through these efforts, the collective history of women’s service to the nation continues to inspire and educate, honoring their legacy for all time.

Learn about the Register, why registering is important, and who can register at Make HERstory womensmemorial.org