Women in Military Receive Recognition for Service, Sacrifice

October 19, 2015 - Women veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice at a memorial service held at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse on Friday, October 16, 2015.

Members of the community, Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary stood encircling the Veterans Memorial as Larry Hume, post quartermaster, led the observance. Jason Samford, VFW Post 8904 chaplain, gave the opening prayer seeking blessings upon our Military Women being honored as well as protection over them.

Addie Boyd salutes following placement of the memorial wreath.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, Hume said, "The history of women in the armed forces began more than 221 years ago with those women who served in the American Revolution. It continues present day. Today we are going to honor all the women who have served courageously, selflessly, and with dedication in times of conflict and in times of peace. Women whose achievements have before to long gone unrecognized or ignored."

Hume then mentioned highlights of Women in Military which ended with the mentioning of two women who in 2015 were the first two women to graduate from the Army Ranger School. Women continue to make history in the military.

Highlights in the History of Military Women - http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/timeline.html
A History of Women in the U.S. Military - http://www.infoplease.com/us/military/women-history.html

To end the Women in Military observance, Addie Boyd, post-member, hung the memorial wreath on the Veterans Memorial. Samford then played taps while all attending gazed upon the American Flag.

Following the dismissal of the program, the group traveled to visit Barbara Hughes, a VFW Post 8904 member, who was unable to attend