DAR: Men aren’t the only patriots

The March meeting of the Stephen A. Douglas Chapter was held at the Camargo UMC parsonage. The guest speaker was Mrs. Marie Boedecker, the Illinois DAR District 3 Director.

Although a person usually thinks only about the men as our patriots, many women aided and fought alongside the men in all American wars. Mrs. Boedecker recounted stories of patriot women through our history: during the American Revolution there was the infamous Molly Pitcher. During the Civil War many wives fought at the side of their husbands disguised as men. During World War I and World War II they worked in the ammunition factories, were nurses at the front, took the place of men at all levels of society. (Visit http://americanhistory.si.edu/ for exploring Smithsonian American History Museum and women during the wars).

At the entrance to Arlington Cemetery is the Women in Military Service for America Memorial where memorabilia of women who have served in or with the US Armed Forces from the American Revolution to the present time is displayed. It is also where the history and experiences of servicewomen can be found. (Visit www.womensmemorial.org )

(NOTE: the now-retired founder of this Memorial is a member of our chapter, Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught originally from Metcalf, IL.)