Department of Defense leadership canceled a nearly 30-year-old tribute to women Veterans, a June 10th wreath-laying at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial near Arlington Cemetery, honoring the contributions of women who served in the armed forces.
The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Navy declined invitations to participate in the wreath laying citing Executive Order 14185 and a Pentagon press release titled “Identity Months Dead at DoD.”. The U.S. Army cited “scheduling conflicts” and the U.S. Marine Corps didn’t bother to respond to the invitation.
U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a former Air Force Officer objected to the decision, saying, in a press release from her office, “Today’s cancellation is not happening in isolation. For months we’ve been watching women’s contributions to our military be questioned, be diminished, and be erased. We’ve seen accomplishments that women leaders have had being removed or demoted. We’ve seen programs supporting servicewomen dismantled, and we’ve seen the false suggestion that women who have met every single military standard somehow still do not belong.”
Already outrageous initiatives to limit the promotion and advancement of women, people of color and members of the LBGTQ community are now being expanded to erasing the contributions of those members of our community to the defense of our nation.
The decision also raises questions about the future recognition of groups such as the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Montford Point Marines. Read the military.com story.
