[Calendar: 1996 Special Edition Calendar] Page: 2 of 17

                                
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Saluting Our World War I Pioneers

The Women In Military Service For America Memorial, to be
built at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, will salute
America's military women. To date, almost two million women
have served our country with distinction, beginning with the American
Revolution.
The Memorial not only will chronicle the achievements of these
remarkable women, it also will provide the first complete documen-
tation of the history of the women who have served in the FG
military. Finally, the story of women's service will be
told to the nation.                 Then and Now-
The Register will be the heart of Helene Coxhead
the Memorial. Its computerized data-
base will contain the name, photograph,
and brief biography of each military
woman whose information has been
submitted. In addition, the Memorial~
Register will contain the record of
service to our country of women whore
supported the Armed Services over-
seas during times of war, such as those
who served in the Red Cross, USO and
the Special Services, as well as the uniformed
women of the U.S. Public Health Service who are mobilized to provide
support to the military.
On June 22, 1995, the President and First Lady joined many other
dignitaries and some 6,000 women veterans and their families and
supporters for the official groundbreaking for the Memorial.
With the President on the dais were two World War I women

veterans-Mrs. Helene Johnson Coxhead, who served at Mares Island
Naval Station as a Yeoman First Class, and Mrs. Anne Pedersen
Freeman, who served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a Yeoman First
Class. Mrs. Freeman was one of the speakers at the ceremony.
As we heard the stories of these women, reflected on their pioneer-
ing service in the U.S. Navy, and thought of the ages of the World War I
women veterans still living and the tremen-
dous pride they take in their service, we
knew that this calendar had to be about
our World War I women.
World War I was a time for pioneers.
Many of the women that the pictures
in this calendar represent were the first
to go overseas in large numbers to care
for and support our soldiers on the
battlefield. The Navy and Marine Corps
women were the first to be recruited to
"adserve as enlisted members, and be given
(l F "   Anne Freeman'
military rank as groups. A unique aspect
of women's participation in World War I was the extent
to which they aligned themselves with humanitarian
organizations such as the American Red Cross, YMCA, Salvation Army
and others, in order to join with women in the military in meeting
soldiers' needs. We have included these women "in uniform" to
demonstrate the spectrum of participation by women during the "war
to end all wars."
With pride, we dedicate The Women's Memorial 1996 Special
Edition (alendar to W'orld War Is women pioneers.

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