Thank you for joining us for this edition of The Register, the Military Women’s Memorial monthly e-newsletter. You’ll find information about members, Memorial updates, upcoming events and activities, foundation actions, important dates in servicewomen’s history, our donors and volunteers, and so much more. Its our way of keeping you informed, not only about the Memorial, but of the many opportunities to be a part of our mission of honoring each and every one of America’s servicewomen.

Don’t forget to help an eligible woman, past or present, take her rightful and visible place in history by registering her service, today. We hope you enjoy this edition of The Register. 

A Message From The President

Greetings. Thanks for opening this issue of The Register. This is one of the many ways we try to keep you informed about activities that are taking place at the Memorial as well as other items that relate to the memorial or military women. We are anticipating an exciting and active upcoming few weeks, culminating with our 26^th annual Military Women’s Memorial Veterans Day program, scheduled for 3:00 PM, November 11. Our program is the last formal observance in the National Capital Area, a fitting end to a day set aside to celebrate America’s veterans. We hope to see you there.

In just a few days, we will be celebrating the 26^th anniversary of the dedication of our beloved Military Women’s Memorial. To this day, visitors to the Memorial who attended the dedication take time to “find themselves” in the large picture in the Memorial lobby of the 40,000 celebrants, and we still get notes from our members and friends about that momentous day – the day the nation said “thanks” to the some 3 million women who have served. If you are in the area on Sunday, October 15, I hope you will join us from 1-4:30 PM for the Memorial open house in celebration of our 26 years of honoring America’s military women. More information about the event and an opportunity to RSVP are in this newsletter.

You’ll also find information about our 2^nd annual Patriot Leadership Award Gala, which takes place October 18 at the Memorial. This year’s award recipient is actor, director, producer and humanitarian Blair Underwood. We are over-the-moon to have Mr. Underwood join us to accept this award. Read more about this award and his work on behalf of military women in this edition of the newsletter, as well as how you can be a part of this worthwhile effort in person and at home. 

To remind, the 2023-2024 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is underway. If you are currently serving or a federal employee and you give through CFC, please consider including the Military Women’s Memorial (#11350) as one of the worthy charities you designate. The campaign runs through Jan. 15, 2024.

Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? Don’t forget to visit our gift shop for some wonderful and unique gifts for the women who’ve served our nation. Ideal gifts are our exclusive “Women of Valor” jewelry items designed by the “nation’s jeweler” Ann Hand. Another meaningful and lasting gift is an Honorary Square Foot of her Memorial. Both can be found on our website.

We hope you enjoy this edition of The Register. Don’t forget to make your reservations for the 2024 Women Veterans Cruise. You’ll find more info about the cruise later in the newsletter. And finally, Happy 248^th birthday to America’s Navy!

New in the Military Women's Memorial Collection

This year, in honor of the 70^th Anniversary of the end of the Korean War, we would like to highlight the service and bravery of one of the women who served during “The Forgotten War.”

The military nurses who served in the combat theater proved once again how essential military nurses are in war. Approximately 1,750 nurses and medical specialists such as physical therapists and dietitians served in the Korean Theater.

The Air Force Nurse Corps had only been in existence for a year when the war started in 1950. There was a severe shortage of trained flight nurses throughout war, and some were assigned evacuation duty although they did not have flight training.

The nurses served aboard flights from Korea to Japan, Japan to Guam, Midway, Hawaii and the United States. They also served at Air Force hospitals in California and San Antonio, Texas. Flight nurses were responsible for dispensing medicine and keeping patients stable and comfortable during crowded and cold flights. Flight nursing was not only demanding, it was also dangerous.

Before dawn on September 26, 1950, a C-54 carrying military personnel, including two flight nurses, crashed into the Sea of Japan, drowning many passengers, including Captain Vera Brown. Lieutenant (later Captain) Jonita (Bonham) Bovee, although injured, assisted others and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for her actions.

The official citation states: “First Lieutenant Jonita R. Bonham performed meritorious service and distinguished herself while acting as Flight Nurse in medical air evacuation flights totaling one hundred seventy (170) hours from 25 July to 26 September 1950. Lieutenant Bonham flew in unarmed cargo type aircraft. On many occasions these aircraft were operating into and out of advance airfields which were being subjected to enemy fire, transporting ammunition, rockets, bombs and other types of high explosives and inflammable material, under adverse weather conditions and over hazardous terrain. Despite these conditions, Lieutenant Bonham carried out her missions willingly and without complaint, continually comforting and caring for her patients. By her courage, ability and unselfish devotion to duty, Lieutenant Bonham has reflected great credit upon herself, her profession and the United States Air Force.”

Jonita (Bonham) Bovee, a native of Bennington, Oklahoma, joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1944 and served until 1946. When the Korean War broke out, she joined the Air Force Nurse Corps. During her service, she logged over 245 flight hours and helped evacuate over 600 wounded men. She was discharged from the service in 1952. Captain Jonita (Bonham) Bovee was the first female recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

On July 18, 2023, the Military Women’s Memorial was honored to have Captain Bovee’s children, Renee Bovee and Greg Bovee, donate their mother’s Distinguished Flying Cross and other memorabilia such as service records, correspondence, photographs, handbooks, and magazines to the Military Women’s Memorial Collection. It is through donations such as this that we can fully tell the story of our servicewomen’s dedicated and selfless service to the United States.

Photo, upper left: Bovee-Nursing World Magazine.jpg

July 1951 issue of Nursing World magazine featuring Air Force nurse Jonita (Bonham) Bovee recovering from injuries received in a plane crash over the Sea of Japan in September 1950.

Jonita (Bonham) Bovee Collection, MWM Collection

Photo, upper right: Jonita Bovee Donation 1.jpg

Renee Bovee and Greg Bovee, children of Jonita (Bonham) Bovee, present their mother's Distinguished Flying Cross and other memorabilia to the Military Women’s Memorial, July 18, 2023.

Photo by Amy Poe

Photo, bottom: "Bonnie" Jonita Bonham at Dogpatch Diner Puson Korea 1950 edited.jpg

Air Force flight nurse Jonita (Bonham) Bovee, Pusan, Korea, c. 1950.

Jonita (Bonham) Bovee Collection, MWM Collection

HERstory Video

Happy Ask An Archivist Day, which we celebrate on October 10th. While today is not the only day you can ask our MWM archivists about the Collection, today is a great day to submit your questions to be answered. Find our Ask An Archivist posts on social media today and place your questions in the comments. We'll gather up the questions and our archivists will get to work on the answers.

Don't have a question? Tell us what you love about our world class collection donated by military women and their family members, as well as friends and supporters of MWM.

Click on the our social media pages below to ask your questions and share your comments. Don't forget to like and follow our MWM pages.

The MWM Collection

The Military Women's Memorial formally established its Collection in July 1994. The Memorial now houses more than 8,000 donations, including photographs, documents, textiles, artifacts, and audiovisual material representing all eras and all branches of service. In February 2000, MWM officially launched the Oral History Program to collect the personal stories of veterans and active duty servicewomen. The Oral History Collection now houses over 1,000 narratives from all branches from World War I to the present. Our resources also include a research library of more than 1,000 books by and about military women.

Stories From The MWM Register

October 2023 marks the 40^th anniversary of Operation Urgent Fury, the military operation initiated to protect the lives of US students, restore a democratic government, and purge Cuban influence from the island of Grenada. It was an historic operation for military women, particularly Army women, as it was the first time integrated Army units would be deployed since the 1978 disestablishment of the Women’s Army Corps.

With the exception of the Coast Guard, some confusion and misinterpretation with the “intent” of the combat exclusion laws remained across the services. If women are assigned to deploying units, can they or can’t they deploy? In October 1983, the provisions of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act prohibiting women from serving aboard combat ships and aircraft were still in place. The services with ground combat forces were operating under the “intent” of the law, prohibiting the assignment of women to combat specialties and units. But what about those women assigned to deploying units that weren’t combat?

Despite the confusion, only a few instances of women being returned stateside based on the combat exclusion laws were reported. And, they were quickly returned to Grenada when the action was discovered by the commanding general.

Our profiles this month feature some of those women involved in Operation Urgent Fury. 

Thank You to our Corporate Donors, Partners,

and Supporters!

A heartfelt thank you is extended to each of the Military Women’s Memorial partners! As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, MWM thanks you for your support of the Memorial's important work for the past 25 years! 

Thank You to our Gala Sponsors.

The Military Women's Memorial extends our deepest gratitude to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and President General Pamela Rouse Wright for the generous support of the Memorial and the 2023 Patriot Leadership Award Gala.

A steadfast supporter well before the Memorial even opened its doors, the NSDAR has embraced and advanced our mission of honoring and telling the extraordinary story of the commitment, courage, contributions, and patriotism of America's military women. We are enormously grateful and consider it a distinct privilege to have NSDAR, one of America's most prestigious patriotic organizations, stand and serve together with the Military Women's Memorial.

MWM Volunteers

Our volunteers serve in a variety of roles in support of the Memorial. Always eager to help, our volunteers are a dedicated group. Every day, they roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission.

A HUGE thank you to our volunteers for their support and excellent representation of the Memorial.

Pictured is our most recent group of volunteers after finishing up volunteer training with our MWM Volunteer Coordinator, Jan Fitzsimmons. We are so lucky to have them as part of Team MWM.

MWM Ambassadors On Duty

MWM Ambassadors form our day-to-day grassroots connection to women veterans across the United States. They support MWM’s mission by encouraging military women, past and present, to register their story of service in the Memorial’s Register.

From tables at conventions and bases, to speaking engagements and golf tournaments, to presenting MWM Living Legend Proclamations, they are out in their communities in force, honoring our servicewomen and women veterans and spreading the word about their Memorial.

MWM 26th Anniversary Open House

October 15, 1 - 4:30 pm

Join us at the Military Women's Memorial as we celebrate 26 years of honoring our servicewomen, past and present, and telling their stories of service. This is a day to celebrate the memorial that honors your service and the journey of women in the military. It is a day to celebrate belonging to something that you and your sisters-in-arms, past and present, created together. This Memorial - YOUR MEMORIAL - embodies your SERVICE, SACRIFICE, and SPIRIT. It was and is more than a place. It is each of you and all of you. TOGETHER, YOU ARE MWM. This anniversary is a CELEBRATION of YOUR MEMORIAL and YOU!

We welcome all military women and supporters of the Memorial to join us on October 15th for our 26th Anniversary Celebration Open House. In addition to an opportunity to visit your Memorial, meet up with your military sisters, and enjoy some light refreshments, we will screen "The Hello Girls" documentary for all who wish to see it. As you may know, there are efforts in progress to ensure the Hello Girls are awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for answering the call to serve our nation during WWI.

In celebration of 26 years, come be part of our incredible community of military women and supporters, learn about your sisters who answered the call, and "find yourself” in YOUR MEMORIAL - in the photos from dedication, in an exhibit, in the images of your sisters, in the journey and LEGACY of service WOVEN INTO EVERY INCH of the Memorial, in the spirit of this special and EXQUISITE place that YOU ARE A PART OF.

We can't wait to welcome you to your Memorial!

Help the Hello Girls

Congressional Gold Medal

2023 Patriot Leadership Award Gala

Serving Together

This fabulous affair supports the Memorial and our mission of honoring the women who have answered the call to serve, and of preserving and telling their stories of service for generations to come.

This year, it is our distinct honor to present the MWM Patriot Leadership Award to Blair Underwood for his work to bring national recognition to the women of the SIX TRIPLE EIGHT Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only multi-ethnic, predominantly all-Black female Army battalion to serve overseas in World War II. Mr. Underwood is executive producing a new stage play bound for Broadway called 6888: The Musical, a musical based on the famed battalion.

The Patriot Leadership Award recognizes women and men of extraordinary caliber whose actions and leadership have honored and empowered our nation's military women. It honors exceptional Americans whose inspirational service and selfless dedication embody the ideals and patriotism espoused by the more than 3 million women who have served our country from the American Revolution to today.

We are grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution; our Gold Sponsors – Windsor Group LLC, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and PENFED Foundation; and all of our silver sponsors for their exceptional and steadfast support of the Military Women’s Memorial and our Patriot Leadership Award Gala.

Your support matters. Gala guests and members and friends celebrating with us from home have the opportunity to support the Memorial by purchasing a Golden Ticket and bidding in the silent auction. Gold buttons below will lead you to the gala site. Thank you for your support.

With your Golden Ticket purchase, you will have the opportunity to win 1 of 3 fabulous prizes:

• an incredible Kentucky Derby experience
• a bottle of acclaimed, sought-after Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon OR
• Las Vegas Vacation at the Marriott Grand Chateau

Golden Tickets are available for purchase now. Click on the link below to learn more.

Our Patriot Leadership Award Gala Auction offers incredible trips to breathtaking locations, exciting and unique experiences, autographed pieces, artwork, and much more.

Help make a difference. Support the Memorial by placing your auction bids to win a fabulous trip, experience, or package. Support comes in many forms. It might just mean enjoying the splendor of Sedona, wandering the Scottish countryside, taking in incredible Alaska, or sporting your Camp David gear while enjoying a glass of limited release Camp David wine.

*Not all items included in graphic below are included in the silent online auction or Golden Ticket opportunity.

26th Annual Veterans Day Program

November 11, 2023

Join us this Veterans Day, November 11, at 3:00 PM, for the 26th annual Military Women’s Memorial Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony, one of the major observances in the nation’s capital, is free and open to the public and will include formal military honors, a keynote address, veterans’ remarks, and wreathlayings.  

We are honored to have retired Army Major General Suzanne Puanani Vare-Lum join us to deliver this year’s keynote address. MG Vare-Lum is a 34-year veteran of the United States Army, Army Reserve and Hawaii Army National Guard. She has recently been selected as the next President of the prestigious East-West Center, the first woman president since the Center’s establishment by the Congress in 1960. As is the Women’s Memorial tradition, six servicewomen, one from each military service, will join MG Vare-Lum in paying tribute to the nation’s military veterans.  

In celebration of America’s Veterans, guests are invited for light refreshments following the program. To make sure we have adequate seating and refreshments, please RSVP, indicating the number attending. We look forward to having you join us for this major national holiday set aside especially to honor America’s veterans. 

MWM Community Service Day

Wreaths Across America Day

December 16

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, America's servicemembers are honored and remembered with wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.

This Wreaths Across America Day, join fellow Military Women's Memorial members and friends in laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes that have served and defended our nation. Our Community Day will end with a wreathlaying on the Military Women's Memorial Plaza. Our MWM team will also be volunteering on the MWM plaza, serving hot chocolate and hot cider to all Wreaths Across America Day participants.

MWM Volunteers will receive a light breakfast, snacks, hot beverages, and exclusive access to the Memorial (and our bathrooms) throughout the event, as we will be closed to the public.

We will have a link to MWM Wreaths Across America Day volunteer shirts soon. Stay tuned.

Can't join us? Do good twice. Sponsoring a wreath to be laid on December 16th also supports the Military Women's Memorial – $5 from every wreath sold on MWM's Sponsor A Wreath page is donated back to us and helps to further our mission of honoring America's servicewomen. 

"Serving in Strength" is a comprehensive health and wellness program by the Military Women's Memorial designed specifically to address the unique health challenges faced by military women. Each event will focus on a different topic. Our first program will focus on breast health.

Special guests and participants will include members of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency, and Center for Women Veterans, as well as private sector leaders, active duty military members, and veterans.

A special thank you to our "Serving in Strength" sponsors: TriWest Healthcare, Leonardo DRS, Optum Serve, WPS Health Solutions, and Humana.

Due to challenges resulting from the recent threat of a government shutdown, we made the difficult decision to postpone our October event. Stay tuned for information about the new date.

Women Veterans Networking Cruise

8 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise

Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas

Sailing on April 13, 2024

Over 25 Cabins booked! Stay tuned for a Women Veterans Cruise Group Facebook page for all who have booked for this cruise through Moore Travel.

Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Willemstad, Curacao – Oranjestad, Aruba – Perfect Day Cococay, Bahamas

• Ocean View Balcony (Cat 4 D) $1629.11 per person
• Ocean View (Cat 2 N) $1399.11 per person
• Interior (Cat 4 V) $1185.11 per person

This event is open to all veterans and supporters. Spouses, children, friends, and family are welcome to attend! Group events and amenities are exclusively available to guests booked through MOORE Travel.

For more information or to book your cruise, contact:

MOORE TRAVEL

5188 Hwy 190 W, Livingston, TX 77351

[email protected]

936-967-2929 or 888-327-5806

*Prices are subject to change. Booking early helps guarantee the lowest price possible.

Register Today!

We can't do it without you!

We’ve launched an all-out effort to increase registrations by 23,000 in 2023. Registrations to date total 4,947.

Today, at 21.51% of our 2023 campaign goal, your continued help remains critical to this worthwhile effort.

Registration is easy and free.

If you know of a woman, past or present, living or deceased, who has served our great nation in uniform, help her take her rightful and visible place in history for all time by registering her service with the Memorial – America’s only major national memorial to honor women’s service to the nation.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock, AR

June 17 - October 20



For sponsorship, please reach out to [email protected]

"The History Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Exhibition," brought to you by the Military Women's Memorial; Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier (The Society); and with special gratitude to Dave Rappaport and Le Souvenir Francais; debuts in France this month.

To commemorate the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 2021, the Military Women’s Memorial partnered with The Society. "The History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Exhibition" is a continuation of that collaboration to educate and inform the public on the history of the Tomb and its everlasting importance to American heritage and culture.

This exhibit is of additional importance to the Military Women's Memorial as it highlights the service of women Tomb Guards. The first woman Tomb Guard, Sgt. Heather Johnson, earned her identification badge in 1996. According to the Department of Defense, this was after "the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment began allowing women into its ranks in 1994, when a combat support unit that included women was attached to the Old Guard." As of today, 7 women have served as Tomb Guards.

The History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 26 paintings by artist Dave Rappaport is currently on exhibit in France at Château de Castries, Oct 10-30. www.amischateaudecastries.fr/

You can view the exhibit online through the collection of exhibit tombstones (descriptive panels) in English and French with painting insets.

Square Foot Society

Honor Her Legacy

Honor a Servicewoman

There is no more appropriate way to recognize her service, contributions, and commitment to the nation than with an honorary square foot of her Memorial, the only national memorial that honors her service.

With your donation, she will become an honorary "owner" of the Memorial and receive an exclusive Military Women’s Memorial ‘Square Foot Society’ membership coin and certificate of recognition, which arrive neatly packed in an MWM box.

Calling all Military, Veteran, Patriotic, & Women’s Organizations

Local chapters, posts, and clubs of various military, veteran, patriotic, and women’s organizations across the nation are using MWM’s Square Foot Campaign to honor their servicewomen members, past and present. Meaningful, affordable, enduring and visible, there is no grander way to recognize her service, contributions, and commitment to the nation than with an honorary square foot of her memorial.

We are doing great things together, and we are so proud and grateful each of you are part of our incredible community. We are StrongHER Together!

Visit the MWM Gift Shop at the Memorial or shop our online gift shop today!

WOMEN OF VALOR JEWELRY

HONORING WOMEN OF VALOR

Women of Valor jewelry is designed by Ann Hand, the "nation's jeweler," with humble gratitude for the courageous women who have served or are currently serving our great Nation. These statement pieces are meant to resemble a forget-me-not flower and feature purple petals to represent the combined military brand colors symbolizing joint service.

For a special military woman in your life, she will be grateful to you for recognizing and honoring her service with this meaningful gift. Wear it proudly as a military woman or in remembrance and recognition of the heroic service of all our military women.

25th ANNIVERSARY ORNAMENT

The holidays are right around the corner! Take advantage of our sale on 25th anniversary ornaments to stock up on great gifts and stocking stuffers for the holidays.

Support MWM

Shop our Amazon Wishlist

Thank you to our amazing village of MWM members and supporters who have purchased items from our MWM Amazon Wishlist. Your generosity makes an impact on how we operate and accomplish our mission, every day. Thank You!

Amazon is an easy way to support the Military Women's Memorial! Not only does it take a village to keep the efforts of the Memorial going, but also needed are a great deal of operational materials. Check out our Amazon Wishlist below, where you can easily purchase and donate an item that the Memorial needs, directly from Amazon!

For more ways to support the Military Women's Memorial, visit the Ways to Give page on our website.

Don't forget to keep your MWM account current!

Keeping your email and mailing addresses up-to-date allows us to provide you with the latest MWM program updates and information.

Please be sure to use a personal email address

for your MWM account.

The Military Women’s Memorial is the only historical repository documenting the service of all women who’ve served in and with the nation’s military, beginning with the American Revolution. Located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, it features an education center, innovative and interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories and artifacts, and engaging programs and events for all generations.

Here are a few additional ways you can continue to support our mission!