Memorials focusing on Women Veterans: 1948-present
In Honor and Remembrance of America’s Women (1991): https://www.legion.org/memorials/united-states/illinois/united-states-illinois-in-honor-andremembrance-of-americas-women. This memorial was installed by the American Legion Post and Unit 50 and is located in Memorial Park in Blue Island, IL.
Vietnam Women’s Memorial (1993): https://vietnamwomensmemorial.org/. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day 1993 in Washington, D.C., becoming the first memorial on the National Mall explicitly dedicated to women’s military service. The bronze sculpture depicts three uniformed women caring for a wounded male soldier and honors the approximately 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam War.1 See the brochure featuring the Women on the Wall.
Military Women’s Memorial (1997): https://womensmemorial.org/. Located at the entrance to
Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Women’s Memorial is the only historical repository
documenting the service of all military women, featuring an interactive computer database that
preserves information about over 300,000 servicewomen. The Military Women’s Memorial, also
known as the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, is located at the western end of
Memorial Avenue at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County,
Virginia.2 Congress approved the memorial in 1986, groundbreaking occurred on June 22, 1995,
and it was dedicated in October 1997. This is the nation’s only major memorial honoring all
women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces across all branches and eras.
The database includes names, service data, experiences, awards, and photographs, though this
represents only a fraction of the approximately 3 million women who have served since the
American Revolution.
Women Veterans Memorial, Haverhill, MA (1999): https://www.legion.org/memorials/united-states/massachusetts/united-states-massachusetts-women-veterans-memorial-haverhill-massachusetts. Dedicated 26 Sep 1999 by the Haverhill Veterans Council
Del City, Oklahoma Patriot Park Women’s Veterans Monument (2014): Dedicated on November 11, 2014. https://www.legion.org/memorials/united-states/oklahoma/united-states-oklahoma-del-city-oklahoma-patriot-park-womens-veterans-monument/
6888th Battalion Monument (2018): https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/the-6888th-monument. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion monument was dedicated on November 30, 2018, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, honoring the only all-female, all-Black unit to serve overseas during World War II.
Female Veterans of Idaho Monument (2018): https://www.idahoveteransgarden.com/idaho-women-veterans-memorial. Located in Idaho Falls, dedicated in December 2018.
Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans’ Park (2021):https://myokaloosa.com/bcc/women-veterans-memorial. Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach – were dedicated on Veterans Day 2021. Eight bronze statues feature real women who served in various U.S. conflicts, all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Janet Place, an initiative committee member who uploaded it to The American Legion’s online Memorial Database, stated on the entry that “the intent was to honor women who have served and made significant contributions in the U.S. military throughout history.”
Pennsylvania Women Veterans for Wayne County and the surrounding area (2024): https://www.legion.org/memorials/united-states/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-women-veterans-wayne-county-and-surrounding-areas/.
Men and Women of Anson County WWI Memorial (2024): https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/574/
For a more complete list of state memorials, please visit the National Directory of Women Veterans Memorials, Monuments, and Parks.
Organizations Recognizing Women Veterans
Military Women’s Memorial http://Womensmemorial.org
American Legion – Famous Firsts: Women in the U.S. Military: https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/women-veterans/2025/march/famous-firsts-a-salute-to-women-in-the-us-military
Army Women’s Foundation https://www.awfdn.org/ promotes public interest in the U.S.
Army and recognizes and honors the service of all U.S. Army women, past and present, and
inspire the future.
Hall of Fame https://www.awfdn.org/hall-of-fame-and-special-recognition-awards/. The
Army Women’s Foundation honors the service of U.S. Army women through its Hall of
Fame Induction program, with most inductees being women who have served in the U.S.
Army since the program’s inception in 2009.
Final Salute Inc. https://finalsaluteinc.org was founded in 2010 by Army veteran Jas Boothe,
Final Salute Inc. addresses homelessness among women veterans and their children by providing
transitional housing (up to 2 years) through H.O.M.E. program and emergency financial assistance through S.A.F.E. program. It also hosts “Next Uniform” events for professional
clothing and makeovers and organizes Ms. Veteran America competition.
Foundation for Women Warriors https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org/programs/ is a
105-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and empowering the women veteran
community.
Grace After Fire https://graceafterfire.org began in 2002 with a motto of “Protect the veteran, connect the resource, and renew the women.” The organization empowers women veterans
through information, insight, and self-renewal opportunities. It offers “Table TalkTM Color Me
Camo” peer-to-peer support groups, provides spring retreats, social opportunities, and
community resources.
Mission Roll Call – Women Who Changed Military History
https://missionrollcall.org/veteran-voices/articles/women-who-changed-military-history/
documents women’s contributions from World War II through the present, including information
about the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 and women who served in
organizations like the SPARs, WAVES, and WACs.
National Women’s Hall of Fame https://www.womenofthehall.org/ includes military women
among its 312+ inductees since 1973.
USO – Women Making Modern Military History https://www.uso.org/stories/1960-15-women-making-modern-military-history. This resource highlights 15 groundbreaking military women making modern history, including the first female Army Ranger School graduates, the first four-star woman in Navy history, and other trailblazers. This site documents milestone moments in women’s military service, including the fact that President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, and that in 1967, President Johnson signed Public Law 90-130, opening promotions for women to general and flag ranks.
Women in the Army (Official U.S. Army Site) https://www.army.mil/women/history/. This
official Army website documents the history of women in the Army, including information about
the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act signed by President Truman on June 12, 1948,
which enabled a permanent presence of women in the military.
Women Veterans Alliance (WVA) https://womenveteransalliance.com is the premier global
network for women veterans. It connects, supports, and enables women veterans to thrive by hosting annual events including summer fun runs and the Beyond the Call of Duty Award and maintaining an extensive directory of allied women veteran organizations.
Individual Women who Served
Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913)
Harriet Tubman served as a nurse, cook, scout, and spy for the Union Army during the Civil
War. She became the first woman to lead an armed military operation in U.S. history when she
guided the Combahee Ferry Raid in June 1863.
Key Resources:
- American Battlefield Trust: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/harriet-tubman
- U.S. Army Official:
https://www.army.mil/article/269360/army_honors_female_combat_pioneer_renowned_abolitionist - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman
- National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/individuals/harriet-tubman
- National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/articles/harriet-tubman-and-the-54th-massachusetts.htm
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919)
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker served as a contract surgeon for the Union Army during the Civil War
and is the only woman to have received the Medal of Honor, which was awarded in 1865 for her
meritorious service. She served as an assistant surgeon with the 52nd Ohio Infantry, was
captured and imprisoned as a suspected spy for four months and later served at the Louisville
Women’s Prison Hospital.
- Born: November 26, 1832 in Oswego, New York
- Education: Syracuse Medical College with a degree Doctor of Medicine degree,
becoming one of the first female physicians in the United States (only six years after
Elizabeth Blackwell) - Service: 1861-1865. Appointed as the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army; served as
contract surgeon (civilian status) with the 52nd Ohio Infantry, Army of the Cumberland.
Captured by Confederate troops in Tennessee, arrested as a suspected spy. Held as a
prisoner of war at Castle Thunder prison, Richmond, Virginia (four months). Served at
Louisville Women’s Prison Hospital and the orphan asylum in Clarksville, Tennessee. - Honors: Awarded Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson for meritorious service.
- Died. February 21, 1919 at age 86 in Oswego, NY
Key Resources:
- Congressional Medal of Honor Society: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/mary-e-walker
- National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/people/mary-walker.htm
- U.S. Army:
https://www.army.mil/article/183800/meet_dr_mary_walker_the_only_female_medal_of_honor_recipient - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Edwards_Walker
- National Women’s History Museum: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-edwards-walker
Elizabeth P. Hoisington (1918-2007)
- Born: November 3, 1918, Newton, Kansas
- Education: College of Notre Dame of Maryland (Chemistry, 1940)
- Service: Enlisted Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, November 1942
- Wars Served: World War II (Europe), Vietnam War (advisor)
- Position at Promotion: Director of Women’s Army Corps (7th Director, 1965-1971)
- Promoted: June 11, 1970 (second woman general, minutes after Hays)
- Family: Brother Perry Hoisington II was an Air Force General (the first brother-sister
generals) - Retired: 1971
- Died: August 21, 2007
Anna Mae Hays (1920-2018)
Born: February 16, 1920, Buffalo, New York
- Education: Allentown General Hospital School of Nursing (1941); Columbia University
(BSN, 1958); Catholic University (MSN, 1968) - Service: Joined the Army Nurse Corps, May 1942
- Wars Served: World War II (India), Korean War (Inchon), Vietnam War
- Position at Promotion: Chief of Army Nurse Corps
- Promoted: June 11, 1970 (first to receive a star, by minutes)
- Retired: August 31, 1971
- Legacy: Ended automatic discharge of pregnant officers; secured commissary privileges
for military spouses
Resources for Generals Hoisington and Hays
- Army Heritage Center Foundation. (2025, March 6). From patriot to pioneer: Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays. Retrieved from https://www.armyheritage.org/soldierstories/from-patriot-to-pioneer-brigadier-general-anna-mae-hays
- Foundation for Women Warriors. (2024, August 22). Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Brigadier General, U.S. Army. Retrieved from https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org/elizabet-hhoisington/
- GenealogyBank. (n.d.). First two women generals in U.S. military history. Retrieved from https://blog.genealogybank.com/first-two-women-generals-in-u-s-military-history.html
- NCPA. (2024, May 14). Off-script. Retrieved from https://www.ncpa.org/newsroom/qam/2024/05/14/script
- U.S. Army. (2017, March 13). Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays—The first female brigadier
general. Retrieved from https://www.army.mil/article/184170 - U.S. Army. (2025, June 6). Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays. Retrieved from
https://www.army.mil/article/184170/brig_gen_anna_mae_hays - U.S. Army Center of Military History. (n.d.). First female general officers. Retrieved
from https://history.army.mil/html/topics/women/general_officers.html
Eileen Collins (b. 1956)
Eileen Collins served as a U.S. Air Force pilot and instructor, retiring as a Colonel in 2005 after
logging over 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft. She was the first female pilot and first
female commander of a space shuttle.
- Born: November 19, 1956
- Education: Corning Community College (1976) & Syracuse University (1978)
- Military Service: USAF ROTC;
- Retired: 2005 from USAF and 2006 from NASA
- Accomplishments & Awards: Second woman pilot to attend the USAF Test Pilot
School, graduating with class 89B; Piloted STS-63 & STS-84 Space Shuttle Missions;
Commanded STS-114 Mission. Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in
1995, the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009, and the United States Astronaut Hall
of Fame in 2013.
Key Resources:
- Personal Website: https://www.eileencollins.com/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Collins
- NASA Biography: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/collins_eileen.pdf
- Autobiography: Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American
Woman to Command a Space Mission
See Also