Delaware Women's Veterans Monument committee to meet Feb. 15

The Delaware Women's Veterans Monument committee will hold its next meeting at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 15, in Room 112 of the Tatnall Building, Dover.

Committee members continue their work gathering information for a monument that will recognize Delaware women and the roles they played in all branches and periods of service. During World War I, 33,000 women served, and almost 500,000 took part in World War II. During the Korean era, 120,000 women were in uniform, and 7,000 were deployed in theater during Vietnam. During Operation Desert Storm, 7 percent of the total U.S. forces deployed were women - more than 40,000.

Of more than 6,900 deaths in the Middle East since 2003, 207 were women. They include Air Force Senior Airman Elizabeth Loncki of New Castle, who died Jan. 7, 2007, while she was examining a car bomb in Iraq.

The General Assembly and the Department of State are the lead agencies on the monument, and the Delaware Heritage Commission has been working with the Delaware Public Archives, which is soliciting information and photographs for the project. The photos can be from albums or family memorabilia representative of Delaware women.

"Women who have lived in Delaware or live here presently, even though they may have served while living elsewhere, will be honored by this monument," said Dick Carter, chairman of the Delaware Heritage Commission.

The monument, to be dedicated Saturday, Nov. 3, will be on the northwest corner of Legislative Hall and include laser-etched images representative of Delaware women in service. When the dedication takes place, the Heritage Commission will publish a commemorative booklet that will include many of the photos not used on the structure.

For more information or to submit photographs or background information, contact Dick.Carter@state.de.us.