Dear Friend of the Women's Memorial,
We finally had this latest edition of the e-Register ready to go when we received news that we thought you should know. Thus, this edition has two messages from me.
On Saturday, July 18, I had the privilege of participating in the 54th Anniversary and Installation of Officers for the Army Women Veterans’ Association of Northern Virginia. This particular chapter, Chapter 33, was founded in 1955 and had among its members over the years many of the Women’s Army Corps’ icons. I was proud to install retired Army Colonel Pat Jernigan as the newest president. Pat has been a longtime supporter of the Memorial, a committed volunteer and a good friend. It seemed a great day for Army women, past and present, until I returned to the office and got the call that earlier that morning the Army and the Memorial Foundation had lost one of its finest, Brigadier General Mildred C. (Inez) Bailey. BG Bailey, who had been in declining health the past several years, was 90 years old. She was the 8th director of the Women’s Army Corps and the second women (nonnurse) in the history of the US Army to be promoted to general officer rank. A member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1988 to 2007 and an emeritus member until her death, Inez never stopped working for the Memorial. We all owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for all that she has done for the Memorial, for military women and for her beloved Army women. She will be sorely missed. We’ll keep you informed of funeral arrangements.
In late May 2009, two of our long time Charter Members and supporters initiated a special fundraising outreach to help the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation meet its critical financial needs.  The Foundation, overseer of the Women's Memorial, America's only major national memorial telling the story of women's service to the nation, has been struggling to keep the Memorial doors open; and for several months, has literally been operating on a payday to payday basis, deferring payments of several service providers.
These two women were stunned at the news and shocked that the Memorial might actually close. One women wrote a check for $1,000 on the spot and both set out with the goal of finding a total of 500 like-minded individuals who believed this symbol of women’s military history and service here in the nation’s capital was too precious and too important on so many levels to just slip away. With very minimal publicity, we are already seeing the results of their efforts as more individuals are stepping forward to ensure that the Women’s Memorial is as enduring as the contributions made by those it honors.
Now, we are appealing to you to be a part of this remarkable nucleus of Memorial guardians. We are asking you to join today what we’ve named the “Circle of 500.” Your extraordinary gesture of generosity and commitment to the future will be acknowledged at the Memorial in a highly visible way and you will be listed as a “Circle of 500 Guardian” for all time. An example of one “Circle of 500 Guardian” is a woman veteran organization that immediately took up the cause as one of its special projects, collecting donations from its members. Another is a Memorial member who asked family members and friends to help keep the Memorial doors open by sponsoring her effort to become a “Circle of 500 Guardian,” much like sponsors for a walkathon participant. It’s inspiring to learn of the individual and collective commitment to the Memorial, its mission and its future. Please help the Foundation during this very critical time.   
 

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