[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H9476]]
       OPENING OF WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Brown] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend marked the much 
anticipated opening of the Women in Military Service for America 
Memorial. This beautiful monument honoring our Nation's women veterans 
tells an important story of the place of women in the service and 
protection of our country. I am so proud that so many women from 
Florida turned out for this big opening. I want to commend Sheila 
Chamberlain and the Women Veterans Organization for making this happen.
  I want to take a moment to briefly highlight the role of women in 
this Nation's conflicts. We all witnessed the spectacular events in the 
Persian Gulf war where more than 40,000 women made significant 
contributions. However, women have served this country in all of its 
conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War.
  Women were hired in early wars as cooks, seamstresses, scouts, and 
couriers. Doctor Mary Walker, an Army physician who served during the 
Civil War, was the first and only woman awarded the Congressional Medal 
of Honor. The first Army and Navy nurses corps was established during 
the Spanish-American War after a typhoid fever emergency forced the 
Army to recruit 1,500 women.
  Women were first recruited as members of the Armed Services in World 
War I, serving in roles ranging from nurses to telephone operators to 
clerks. More than 350,000 women served in World War II, including the 
first female officers. More than 200 military women died in action 
overseas during the Second World War. In Korea, the war which occurred 
shortly after we fought the war to end all wars, 48,000 women served. 
And in the Vietnam conflict, 7,500 women served this country in one of 
its most controversial conflicts.
  We can be proud of the women who have served this country so 
faithfully, making ultimate sacrifices just like their male 
counterparts. In fact, in early conflicts women served even though they 
could not vote and before they were allowed to officially enlist in the 
Armed Services.
  Let me repeat that. In fact, in earlier conflicts women served even 
though they could not vote and before they were allowed to officially 
enlist in the Armed Services.
  Women have many more gains to make in the military, as pilots, ship 
captains and as leaders of ground forces.
  I am glad that they are entering these areas and encourage all to 
continue making this progress in these new territories for them.
  We must keep in mind that in this day and age of the All Volunteer 
Armed Forces, we must attract all of our people to serve this country, 
and this includes women. Women are vital to our Nation's defense, and I 
am so happy that this memorial was dedicated to all of those who have 
served. I congratulate all of our women active duty people, women 
veterans and, under the leadership of General Vaught. I congratulate 
all those who made this memorial possible.

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