October 12, 2026 - Women have served in uniform for more than four centuries, across nations and cultures. In the United States, that service has grown from a handful of nurses and clerks into every corner of the armed forces.
More than 350,000 American women wore the uniform in World War II. Tens of thousands more served in World War I as nurses, yeomen, and Signal Corps operators. Today women account for nearly 18 percent of the active-duty force and a still larger share of the officer corps. Their duties have moved from typewriters and hospital wards to infantry, armor, artillery, and the cockpits of fighter aircraft.
On Friday, October 16, 2026, at 9am, U.S. Army Veteran Sergeant First Class Mary Roberts (Ret.), a member of Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904, will host a memorial wreath laying at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Courthouse. The ceremony will honor the service and sacrifice of all women veterans.
Veterans, families, and the public are cordially invited to attend.
