The $19.48 Campaign: Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial Fundraiser Celebrates Women Veterans Recognition Day

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Flossmoor Veterans’ Memorial, Inc., (FVM) is seeking 100 donations of $19.48 to celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Day.

Celebrated yearly on June 12^, this day recognizes the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act on June 12, 1948. The Act authorized women to serve in the United States military on a full-time basis both in peacetime and during conflict, regardless of military occupational specialty. Coupled with President Truman’s Executive Order in 1948 to desegregate the United States military, the Act also applied to Black women.

Throughout history, women have served in America’s armed forces in various capacities, from the Revolutionary War to present day. According to USO.org, more than 300,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, more than 9,000 have earned Combat Action Badges, and today, women make up approximately 16% of the United States military.

According to FVM’s efforts to collect names of Flossmoor military veterans, 60 women out of nearly 1,000 identified veterans have lived or are currently living in Flossmoor.

Donations for the $19.48 Campaign can be made on FVM’s website (https://flossmoorvets.square.site) and on Facebook (@honoringflossmoorvets). FVM also encourages community members to share the names of Flossmoor women veterans as they make their $19.48 donations and to share their photos on FVM’s social media pages during the campaign.

"We’re excited that construction of the Veterans’ Wall of Honor is underway and will honor all Flossmoor residents who are serving or have served our country," said Paul Braun, FVM president and retired Flossmoor mayor. "Dozens of women veterans call Flossmoor home, and our Wall of Honor will pay tribute to their service. We encourage their families and friends to lend their support to FVM on June 12."

For more information, visit @honoringflossmoorvets on Facebook/Instagram, @FlossmoorVWH on X/Twitter, https://flossmoorvets.square.site on the Web, or flossmoorvets@gmail.com via e-mail.