As many of you know, DAR has been a steadfast supporter the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM) since the creation of its foundation in 1985 and dedication of the Memorial in 1997.
I am delighted to share that with a recent significant donation to the MWM’s important renovation efforts, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has now proudly provided cumulative donations totaling $1 million in support of the Military Women’s Memorial since its inception!
Located at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Women’s Memorial is the nation’s only major national memorial to honor all women who have defended the nation. The Memorial ensures that future generations of girls and women are inspired to serve their country through military service. The Memorial has been working to bring to life the many stories of servicewomen through programs and the renovation of the Memorial’s interior.
DAR’s most recent donations will support a state-of-the-art gallery renovation at the Military Women’s Memorial. DAR will be recognized as the sponsor of the future Defending a New Nation Gallery which will explore women’s service in and with the Armed Forces from our nation’s founding through the end of the 19th century.
Since the incorporation of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation (WIMSA) in 1985, the DAR has been a key collaborator and supporter in all aspects of the Memorial’s construction and programming. WIMSA was first led by one of the most-decorated military women in US history at the time of her retirement in 1985, and a fellow DAR member, Brigadier General Wilma Vaught USAF (Ret.), who served as WIMSA president for 29 years.
The Memorial’s dedication ceremony in 1997 had many DAR members in attendance, including then-DAR President General Deanie Kemper and DAR Honorary President General Ann Fleck, who led a Candlelight March of some 14,000 people across Memorial Bridge.
DAR’s initial support of the state-of-the-art renovation campaign of the Military Women’s Memorial gallery spaces was first announced at a presentation during the 2023 Continental Congress. In her remarks during the DAR National Defense Night Ceremony, Phyllis Wilson, President of the Military Women’s Memorial, spoke about the close relationship between our two organizations, saying: “The DAR has been at the heart and soul of the Military Women’s Memorial from the very beginning – participating, supporting, and generously donating as individuals, chapters, states and at the national level – even before the Memorial was built.”
We were also honored to recently welcome Phyllis to our February National Board of Management Dinner to speak about opportunities for service at the Memorial. We were thrilled to then surprise her by presenting her with the President General’s Medallion in recognition of her service and dedication to women veterans. Phyllis served 37 years in the Army as a military intelligence voice intercept operator and was the most senior warrant officer in the entire U.S. Army Reserve. We are also very proud that Phyllis is one of our treasured DAR members!
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we salute all the women who have served our nation’s military since the Revolutionary War. I encourage you to explore the MWM Register, where any woman who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces can share her story and experiences in an interactive database. If you know a servicewoman or woman veteran, please take advantage of the free registration to ensure her story joins hundreds of thousands of individual stories that make up the Register.
The Military Women’s Memorial is set to relaunch with all new gallery spaces in 2027 in honor of their 30th Anniversary and we look forward to celebrating with them. We hope that DAR members across the globe are proud of the DAR’s ongoing commitment to support and recognize the legacy of servicewomen in the United States.
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