New Monument at Chesapeake House Honors Maryland Women in Military

The state’s newest memorial installation—the “Maryland Women in Military Service Monument”—was dedicated on Veterans Day 2014 at a high-traffic location in Cecil County.

Located at the busy Chesapeake House travel plaza on Interstate 95 north of Havre de Grace, the monument will have an audience of millions, transportation officials say.

The granite monument, which includes an inspirational quote and triangular plaques, has been in the works since 2005, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported the piece was finished on Monday.

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs reportedly proposed installing the work at Chesapeake House, since it underwent a major renovation this year and attracts millions of visitors.

Veterans and their families joined state and local dignitaries at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to honor women in the military, past and present during a dedication of the monument.

There are more than 64,000 women veterans in Maryland, according to Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who spoke about the accomplishments of women in the military earlier this week during an event at Joint Base Andrews.

The piece at Cheapeake House was designed through collaboration with the public and and several agencies:

• Commission on the Establishment of the Women in Military Service Monument
• Areas USA (operator of Chesapeake House)
• Maryland Department of Transportation
• Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs

Part of the redesign at Chesapeake House in Cecil County was the installation of the Maryland Women in Military Service Monument, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority, which owns and oversees the travel plazas.

Photo Credit: Maryland Transportation Authority.