The Women of World War II will be honored with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on June 24 at noon. The Chief John Ross Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invites all interested area residents to join them as they recognize the service of the women who served in the armed forces or supported the war effort through service in the Red Cross and war industries.
The wreath ceremony will take place at the Women in World War II monument at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Almost 20 years ago, Chief John Ross Historian Jessica Mines Dumitru, then a sixth-grader, initiated a project to collect the stories of women who had contributed to the Allied victory in World War II. After interviewing scores of women, documenting their stories and creating both a documentary and a documented history, she brought the women together for a series of meetings. Ms. Dumitru worked with then Congressman Zach Wamp and the Tennessee-Georgia Monument Company to have a monument erected and dedicated to these women’s patriotism and service. For her efforts, Ms. Dumitru won the Freedom’s Foundation National Grand Prize.
The Chief John Ross Chapter of the DAR continues to collect the stories of Women in World War II. To contribute a story to their collection, contact the chapter coordinator at jmdumitru@gmail.com