October 26, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial to honor Women in the Military on October 18, 2022.
The program was led by Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, and the invocation was given by Mike Wulf, Post Member.
Hume stated, the history of women in the armed forces began more than 225 years ago with women who served in the American Revolution and it continues today.
"The women we honor today are a remarkable bunch," said Hume. "When you think of it, the Revolutionary and Civil War women wanted to serve so badly that they disguised themselves as men."
In 1917 when women were without the right to vote, Hume explained, nurses answered the call to duty in World War I.
"They served everywhere, including near the front lines in France," said Hume. "Not only were their hours long and tedious caring for the wounded and the maimed, but they also had to deal with the 1918 flu epidemic that killed millions worldwide, and many of the nurses themselves."
Once again answering the call to duty during World War II, when the armed services opened their ranks to women, freeing up more men for battle.
"Seventy-seven nurses in the Pacific were taken as Japanese prisoners of war," said Hume. "At Anzio, Italy six Army nurses died from German bombardments. Forwarding to the mud of Korea, 70% of the Army nurses served in Mobile Army Service Hospitals, better known as M.A.S.H. units and 7,500 women served in southeast Asia during the Vietnam War."
Army Nurse Lt. Sharon Lane, 25, was killed during a rocket attack at Chu Lai, Vietnam and seven others died in the Vietnam war due to accidents and illness.
"In 1990, 40,000 American women deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and according to the U.S.O. more than 300,000 women have served during the post-9/11 war including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom," said Hume.
More than 9,000 have earned the Combat Action Badge and 16% of our nations forces are made up of women. 15 have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Today women command Navy vessels, they command combat units, they wear General and Admiral stars, they fly fighter bombers you name it, and we thank them all today," said Hume.
Post Commander Richard Lundie then placed a memorial wreath in honor of women in the military. Taps was then played as presented by Gene Hutto, Past Post Commander.
