Women in service

From the Revolutionary War to the conflict in Iraq, women have played official and unofficial roles in military service.

The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is dedicated to, among others, every American Red Cross worker who aided the wartime effort, every graduate of the country’s military service academies and every woman who has left the safety and security of her home to defend freedom.

The memorial is at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. It is a place to think, reflect and hope for America.

The current war in Iraq has meant an increase in the number of visitors to the memorial, says Donna Hule, director of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.

The memorial opened in 1997 with the goal of honoring World War II servicewomen before they were too frail to travel to Washington, Ms. Hule says. However, more recent events have increased attention on and interest in the military, she says.

“These days, we see an awful lot of active-duty [personnel] come by,” Ms. Hule says.

The memorial is an excellent way to get a lesson in women’s history. The permanent exhibit includes a timeline display that shows artifacts, photos and other bits of history spanning more than 200 years.

Visitors can learn about everyone from Dr. Mary Walker, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving battlefield care to Civil War soldiers, through the Wacs and Waves (members of the Women’s Army Corps and the women’s branch of the Navy) of World War II and women who served in Vietnam.

A large portion of the display honors women in World War II. Visitors can see uniforms and dog-tag IDs; learn about the role of women’s units in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines; and see photos of women who were held as prisoners of war in the Philippines.

Other panels portray women in Korea and Vietnam. Nearly 8,000 women, most of them nurses, served in Vietnam.

Tributes to the women of more modern wars are a work in progress, says Leigh Anne Killian, the memorial’s spokeswoman.

The memorial operates an on-site database. Women who served or are serving in the military are urged to register with the memorial and briefly tell their stories. Visitors can enter a woman’s name into one of the memorial’s many computers to read about her military service in her own words.

So far, 250,000 veterans are in the database, Ms. Killian says. That is just a fraction of the more than 2 million women who have served in the armed forces.

“What we don’t record, we will lose,” Ms. Killian says. “That piece of history will be lost. Many women who have served say, ’It’s just what you did then.’ However, their service was very important. It changed our country. Women serving in the military has been a catalyst for change in our society, leading to changes such as desegregation and women getting the right to vote.”

The memorial is also home to temporary exhibits and special events. One hundred quilts sent by various groups to the Pentagon after the September 11 terrorist attacks will be on display in the halls of the memorial through early May.

The quilts — which range from handprints of preschoolers to intricate artwork depicting the heroism of firefighters — are quite moving. There are quilts by school groups, government staff members and regular sewing circles. One quilt was created by children from various locations who used the project as art therapy to deal with their grief.

The memorial also hosts a Just 4 Kids program several times a year. These programs, designed for children 9 and older, deal with the ideals of patriotism, citizenship and service. Admission to the Just 4 Kids workshops is $2.

Today’s 2 p.m. workshop is titled “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” Participants will learn about code breakers and censorship in World War II. On May 16, “Sound Off” will feature a drill sergeant teaching children how to march in formation. Participants will learn about motivation, consistency and rhythm.

Visitors to the memorial should be sure to take a trip up one of four outside stairways to see the incredible view of Arlington National Cemetery and the District from the upper terrace.

The stairways were cut into the memorial’s walls to symbolize women breaking barriers in the military. On the terrace, 11 inspirational quotations from servicewomen are etched into the glass panels that ring the roof.

WHEN YOU GO:

LOCATION: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

Directions: Take Memorial Bridge straight into Arlington National Cemetery.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 1 through Sept. 30; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 through March 31.

Parking: Pay parking lots are available on-site. The nearest Metro stop is Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line.

Admission: Free

More information: 703/533-1155 or www.womensmemorial.org.

Notes:

• Self-guided tour books are available at the memorial. There are computers where visitors can log in the names of servicewomen.

• The memorial hosts Just 4 Kids programs during the school year. Just 4 Kids is a two-hour workshop for ages 9 and older on a topic related to the military or patriotism. The 2 p.m. workshops cost $2 per person.

• There is a gift shop on-site.

• Don’t miss the display of quilts honoring victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The display, which arrived at the memorial in September, will run through early May.