She began her career as an enlisted member and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5. You’d think she’d stop there, but her legacy of empowering service women and cheering them on was just a chapter in her book. You see, Phyllis J. Wilson, President of the Military Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C., believes that every female service woman has a story to tell. It just has to be recorded.

What the Military Women’s Memorial Does

The Military Women’s Memorial is the only historical repository for military women across the U.S. Their goal is to educate and inspire commitment, contribution and create interactive experiences that tell the stories of our women in arms. From the early days of Molly Pitcher who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, to ladies who fought in the Global War on Terrorism, women have answered the call of our Nation. More than 3 million women have served our country since its inception, and their stories are often lost. Stories that need to be told to honor their strides in service, and also capture the effects of war on women.

Startlingly, studies have shown that women who have served in combat are approximately 40% more likely than their civilian peers to develop some type of cancer later in life. Toxic exposure has been linked to aggressive and advanced forms of cancer in both men and women who served in overseas combat; however, breast cancer is five to seven times more likely to be found in women service members ages 45 to 64. This alarming information must be talked about. It must be shared, recorded and studied for the health of future service members.

Celebrate with the Military Women’s Memorial

This year is a very special year for the memorial, as they prepare to celebrate their 25th Anniversary in downtown Washington D.C. Throughout the weekend, women and men from all services are invited to honor the history of our fearless service women, hear stories of senior leaders from across the Department of Defense, and socialize with Veterans groups and nationally recognized organizations who support our sisters in arms.

If you have a story to tell, maybe your own or that of a relative or a friend, take a moment to register on the Military Women’s Memorial webpage where you can submit your tale. The memorial relies on the submissions of women who have served to preserve the history of their sacrifice.

For More Information

Watch the full Military Women’s Memorial podcast episode on our website or on our YouTube channel.

Your Next Mission® video podcast was created to provide a resource to help Veterans and families through their transition from military to civilian life, and to help educate America about the military. YNM has proudly covered topics with some incredible guests ranging from transition, mental health, education, financial wellness, the military family, Veteran Affairs benefits to numerous charitable organizations serving our Veterans and families, a Medal of Honor recipient, Veterans Treatment Court, extraordinary stories of war and eight (8) U.S. Army Installation Commands including U.S. Forces Command and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.