Military Women: WWII to Present
Project
By:
Therese Agnes Hughes
A picture is worth a thousand words...
True to this axiom, these photos reveal the women you see. Their stories are shown in their faces. They are some of our nation’s women Veterans. Their stories are AMERICAN stories.
I created this project to shine a light for the American people on our women Veterans from a civilian’s perspective. Each interview reveals why these Veterans chose military service.
Some women Veterans were determined to join because of world events.
Some women Veterans were determined to learn professional skills that translate into the civilian world.
Each interviewee’s story highlights why women enter one of the five branches of the USA’s military, what it meant to them and why we should encourage our young women to consider their choices.
They are too modest to tell you their stories. Please use this project to guide you through their history — our American history.
I am humbled by these women Veteran’s patriotism. I am honored for the opportunity to interview and photograph them in their work in defense of our nation’s freedoms as amazing women warriors and peacekeepers.
When you view these photos, know that the galleries include only a small group of the nearly 800 women Veterans who allowed me to hear their stories and take their photos.
Sharing our nation’s woman Veteran’s experiences spanning seven decades of VOLUNTEER Service in defense of our nation and freedoms through a civilian lens.
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Initially the project was created with dual goals:
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Learn about my mother’s military service
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Raise awareness of who our women Veterans are, where they reside; and why they chose to serve in defense of our nation, our Democracy and our freedoms.
The Project
Military Women: WWII to Present
Therese Agnes Hughes
“Women Veterans were interviewed in the following states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Wisconsin.
Women from other states were interviewed at conferences and public events.
”My mother and father served in the U. S. Navy. Not surprisingly, I am personally connected to the military and the U. S. Navy despite never having served. I invite those of you who did not serve to connect to our women Veterans through this work. ”
I’ve had the privilege to photograph and interview nearly 800 women Veterans since March 2011. Their interviews encompass more than seven decades of service in defense of our country. They highlight personal strength, courage and humanity whether they served during WWII or are “Boots-on the Ground” servicewomen of today.
Today, almost half a million women serve in our nation’s military. Their services place them in danger on the battlefields, in the air and at sea. They serve in unprecedented numbers and positions and the extent of their commitment is often unnoticed and largely unappreciated.
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This book celebrates the seventy years our nation’s women Veterans served. It includes WWII women Veterans whose service and continued desire to serve was the impetus for creation of Pub.L.80-625, 62 Stat. 356, enacted on June 12, 1948.
This law enabled women to serve as permanent, regular members of the armed forces in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force. It celebrates all women Veterans generally and highlights the women Veterans interviewed.
Photographs and interviews are from the 2014 "in A Heartbeat" military women photography exhibit that stood up at the Military Women's Memorial at the Gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. It is included are a part of “The Military Women: WWII to Present” Project.
The remainder is as they say history.
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“In a Heartbeat” Exhibit
Created in August 2014, at the request of BG Wilma F. Vaught, USAF (Ret.) for a Veteran’s Day Exhibit honoring our women Veterans, I used photos and interviews of the women Veterans interviewed to that date.
The “In a Heart Beat” photography exhibit opened on Veteran’s Day (2014) at the Women’s Memorial where it stayed for eleven months.
On Veteran’s Day 2015, the exhibit opened at the Tidewater Community College Library in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Exhibit is available to travel