Remember Women on Memorial Day 2014

A bit of news and upcoming events from the Women’s Memorial Foundation. We hope you will be able to join us for some of the activities or take advantage of those in your area. Pictures from the Women’s Memorial Calendar. I Honor Your Service To America ships Military Care Packages to Women as well as the Men.

16th Annual Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues Wreath Laying, May 20?The Women’s Memorial Foundation is proud to host the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues for the 16th annual Women in the Military Wreath Laying Ceremony on May 20, 2014, at 9 a.m. In addition to the formal wreath laying and remarks by various Congresswomen,  the Caucus will formally recognize an outstanding military woman from each service.  Lead Congresswomen for the 2014 ceremony are Doris Matsui (CA) and Krisit Noem (SD). The event is free and open to the public— all are welcome to attend.
17th Annual Women’s Memorial Memorial Day Ceremony, May 26, 4 p.m. ?The Women’s Memorial 17th annual Memorial Day program is scheduled for 4 p.m., May 26, at the Memorial. In addition to formal military honors, the program will feature Elisa Basnight, the Center for Women Veterans Director at the Department of Veterans Affairs and former Army officer, who will deliver the keynote address. The program will also include remarks from past and present military women representing each of the services—we are always humbled by their stories and perceptions of Memorial Day. The program will close with our traditional rose petal ceremony where members of the public will be invited to join in tribute to the nation’s fallen servicemembers. If you are in the DC area on Memorial Day, we hope you will join us. We promise it will make you proud. The program will move inside the Memorial in the case of inclement weather.
Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots ?to air on PBS ?We at the Women’s Memorial Foundation are excited to inform you of the release of a spectacular new 2-hour documentary titled Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots. The film is scheduled to air on PBS stations across the nation during the month of May as a 2-part documentary.  We were privileged recently to host a private screening of Unsung Heroes at the Memorial—it’s an understatement to say guests were overcome with pride by our story of patriotism, service, courage and commitment. Click here to see a sneak preview of the film and call your local PBS station to find out when it will air in your area. You won’t want to miss it. For the DC area, Unsung Heroes will air Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. on Maryland Public Television. Unsung Heroes is executive produced by Academy Award winning filmmaker Ron Howard and written and directed by Sundance, Emmy and Image Award winning filmmaker Frank Martin, creator of the acclaimed public television special For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots. Copies of the documentary can be purchased from the Foundation by calling 800-222-2294/703-533-1155.
GI Film Festival to Salute Military Women, May 25?The GI Film Festival 2014 will be in the DC area May 19-25. The festival is an annual event featuring works by filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty.  In a salute to military women, among this year’s films is Fort Bliss, the story of an Army medic and single mother (Michelle Monaghan) who returns home from an extended tour in Afghanistan to discover that she must now find a way to reconcile her duties as a mother and her obligations as a soldier. The film screening is scheduled for Sunday, 6:30 p.m., May 25 at the Old Town Theater, 815 1/2 King St., Alexandria, VA. Click here to learn more about the festival and Fort Bliss.
Women’s Memorial 2014 Address Label Mailing—We Goofed!?The Women’s Memorial annual Address Label package was mailed in late April. Many thanks to those of you who’ve already donated to this major fundraising effort. It means so much and every dollar helps. We failed, however, to include an online giving opportunity for this project. For those of you still waiting to respond and who would like to use that option, please click here or click the “2014 Labels” button on our website. It’s not too late to give.
Honor Flights Visit the Women’s Memorial?Many of you are familiar with the Honor Flight Network—the non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices by transporting these heroes to Washington, DC. to visit and reflect at their memorials. The Women’s Memorial is increasingly becoming a stop during the Honor Flight, particularly when women veterans are aboard. The women get to see their memorial—some for the first time—find themselves in the Register, and learn about the women who have followed in their footsteps. Some of the groups even take their lunch breaks at the Memorial, an option we always try to accommodate. If you know of an Honor Flight coming to the DC area, please encourage the organizers to make the Women’s Memorial one of their stops. If you call 800-222-2294 or e-mail [email protected] prior to the trip, we’ll check the women’s  registrations to make sure they are complete. Tours and luncheon arrangements can be made by calling 703-892-2606.
Foundation President Activities?Brig. Gen. Vaught is scheduled to attend and/or make remarks at the following events from May 20 through the end of June 2014:
May 20: 16th Annual Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues Ceremony and Wreathlaying, remarks, Women’s Memorial, Arlington, VA.?May 21: Federal Housing Finance Agency Freedom Project, HerStory program, remarks, Washington, DC.?May 22: Gold Star Wives annual Congressional Reception, Washington, DC, attend. ?May 24: National World War II Memorial 10th Anniversary Commemoration, attend.?May 28: Women’s Memorial 17th Annual Memorial Day ceremony, remarks, Women’s Memorial, Arlington, VA.?May 30: Commandant of the Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony, attend, Washington, DC.?May 31: Space Coast Honor Flight, remarks, Arlington, VA.?June 3-5: National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators Conference, remarks, Albuquerque, NM.?June 7: Ms. Veteran America Regional Competition, attend, Women’s Memorial, Arlington, VA.?June 16: NDIA/WID Luncheon, To the Flag Award, Arlington, VA.?June 19: Women Veteran’s Association of Hudson Valley, remarks, Women’s Memorial, Arlington, VA. ?June 24: NSDAR Idaho, remarks, Arlington, VA.?June 24: NSDAR Illinois State Supper, attend, Washington, DC.?June 25: NSDAR Continental Congress Opening Night Ceremony & Reception, attend, Washington, DC.