For nearly two centuries, military service women went unrecognized encountered barriers to greater opportunity and were discouraged for their efforts to serve. Then on June 11, 1948, President Truman signed the “Women’s Armed Service Integration Act” an executive order that provided a permanent place for women to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. The Women Veterans of Freeborn County invite all women of the Military past and present to join in Commemoration of 60 Years of Consecutive Service to America.

In celebration the Freeborn County Women Veterans have organized a program on July 3 beginning at 2:30 p.m. The program will feature speaker Nancy VanderWaerdt who will speak on how the women of military service have influence the women in the work force of today. Following the program a lunch will be served and provide to the Women of the Military at no charge by the American Legion Post 56.

Following the program and lunch at approximately 4:30 p.m. a Remembrance service will take place at the Freeborn County Memorial honoring those women who have passed away with the a presentation of a wreath, a 21-gun salute and Tapps. This portion of the event will be open to all who are interested.

After tile activities at the American Legion and the Memorial the Women of the Military are invited to participate in the 3rd of July parade. The Albert Lea Freeborn County Chambers of Commerce has invited the World War II Women Veterans to be their Parade Marshals for the 2008 Parade and will provide a float provide for them to ride. Following their part in the parade Mark Jones will host the World War II Women Veterans at his home at 216 Fountain St. The remaining Women of the Military will join with the Freeborn County Women Veterans group in the parade.

In special celebration of our 60-year old history The Women Veterans of Freeborn County and the Women of the Military in Service for America Memorial would like generations to come to know that women in uniform also guaranteed their freedom. That their resolve was just as great as the brave men who we stood among. And with victory, our hearts were just as full and beat just as fast and that when our tears fell they fell just as hard for those we left behind. For more contact call Sandy Maiden 377-1223.