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Women Veterans Throughout History

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Description

A celebration of Women Veterans who have contributed to history. One can choose from the following:

  • Photo gallery exhibit: an exhibit to display photos of women veterans who have contributed to history through their service in the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force. Recommended websites of photos are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography.
  • Book display: a book display in the adult/young adult department (also during programs on a table) showcasing books regarding women veterans. Recommended books are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography.
  • Friday film: every Friday showing a film regarding women veterans. Recommended movies are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography.
  • Guest speaker(s): a woman veteran who would like to come in to discuss her experience in the military and her contributions. A woman veteran from your local community or Veterans Health Administration.
  • Presentation: PowerPoint presentation (or Prezi, Visme, Zoho Show, Canva, etc.) to present about women veterans.

Audience

Active military, cadets, community, family, and veterans.

Cost

Collection development

  • $0 - $500 (depends on your current holdings)

Presenter

  • $0 – $450 (It may vary depending on the presenter. It can be based upon time, number of attendees, supplies used, travel, and etc) 

Light refreshments

  • $25 - $100 (depends on the number of attendees. For instance, the following items can be provided water, cookies, munchkins, or other small pastries)

Photos

  • $25.99+ per photo (depends on the size and type of photo: poster, mounted poster, photo poster, canvas, etc.)

Timing 

Women’s History Month (March)

Suggested Duration

  • Photo gallery exhibit should take a few days to prepare: to develop photos, find a space to display the exhibit, purchase easels or can be displayed on walls, and set up the photos. The exhibit should be displayed for the whole month of March
  • Book display should take an hour to set up and the book display should be displayed for the whole month of March
  • Collection development should take a few days to assess the current collection and purchase new items
  • Friday film will depend on the length of the movie
  • Guest speaker(s) should be between 15 to 60 minutes
  • The presentation should take 2 – 4 hours to prepare and 15 - 30 minutes to present depending on the number of slides.

Resources needed 

Photo Gallery Exhibit (recommended websites of photos are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography):

  • Photographs
  • Photo descriptions
  • Easels, or Tools to hang photographs
  • Area to display exhibit

Book Display (recommended books are listed in the Additional Resources/Bibliography):

  • Area to display books
  • Books regarding women veterans
  • Books on a table to display
  • Books during the program

Flyers:

  • Graphic designing program

Marketing:

  • Social media
  • Flyers
  • Newspaper article
  • Email blast to patrons

Program set up (film):

  • Available room - chairs (set up, theatre style)
  • Refreshments (optional)
  • PowerPoint (or presentation software)
  • Computer -
  • Projector
  • Cord needed to connect the computer to projector input on the wall or directly to the projector
  • Microphone

Program set-up (guest speaker and presentation):

  • Available room

Tips for Success

Plan 4 months prior to the date and finalize the event 3 months prior to the date.

Assessment Ideas

  1. Attendees - the number of people attending the program or viewing the exhibit in comparison to other similar programs held in that month.
  2. Circulation - Checking out the books on the display
  3. Survey - Asking the patrons various questions regarding the program

Partners and Stakeholders

A woman veteran from your local community or Veterans Health Administration.

Additional Resources/Bibliography

Books:

  • (2021) Honor Bound: An American Story of Dreams and Service
  • (2021) The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II
  • (2021) Sisters in Arms: A Novel of the Daring Black Women Who Served During World War II
  • (2020) The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II - (2019) Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience
  • (2018) Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front
  • (2018) Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II
  • (2016) Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • (2015) Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War
  • (2015) Ashley's War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield
  • (2015) Camouflaged Sisters: Revealing Struggles of the Black Woman's Military Experience
  • (2010) The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq
  • (2008) Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq
  • (2006) Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army

Movies:

  • Megan Leavey
  • Served Like A Girl - Zero Dark Thirty
  • GI Jane
  • The English Patient

Websites for photos:

Submitted by 

Dr. Bianca Brillant, Department of Veterans Affairs

Public Domain

This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Foreign copyrights may apply.