PHOTOS: Check out the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, built in 1995, honors the nearly 3 million women who have served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces starting with the American Revolution — and it's the only major national memorial of its kind.
The upper terrace of the memorial features glass panels with etched quotations from servicewomen and the lower terrace features a reflecting pool and Court of Valor. Inside, the memorial houses an Education Center, a Hall of Honor, an exhibit gallery, a theater, and a computer database of servicewomen called the Register.
The foundation that runs the memorial, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, is a non-profit dedicated to honoring the patriotism and bravery of all servicewomen.
"We meet so many people from all over the world. And this is a place you can go and look up a grandmother, mother, friend. It's a big honor to see that," said retired Col. Peggy Newman. Newman visited WIMSA this past November to see her very own portrait displayed in the memorial thanks to the Veteran Portrait Project — one of the many installations that have been featured.
Live a little too far from Virginia to visit the memorial? The WIMSA website houses digital archives of exhibits, collections, oral histories, and installations.
