Voices: Native American Women in the U.S. Armed Forces is the title of a new exhibit opening at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, May 26, 2003. The opening, which begins at 2:30 p.m., includes a Gathering to honor our Native American warriors and will feature Native American songs, Honor Guards and tribal representatives from across the nation. The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by the Women's Memorial annual Memorial Day ceremony at 5 p.m. RSVPs to 703-533-1155 or 800-222-2294 are requested.

Through text, pictures and artifacts, the exhibit will tell the story of Native American women's service to the nation. Also featured will be the personal stories of six Native American women, including that of Operation Iraqi Freedom hero Specialist Lori Piestewa, a Hopi woman and the first known Native American military woman killed in battle. Several members of Specialist Piestewa's family are expected to attend, as well as Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor. TriWest Healthcare Alliance, a military health care contractor headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, is a major sponsor of the exhibit. The exhibit is a two-phased project, with the opening of the second phase coinciding with the 2004 dedication of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.

In announcing the opening of the first phase, retired Air Force Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, president of the Women's Memorial Foundation, said, "The stories of Native American military women are a unique and important part of the larger story of women's service to the nation. We've been working toward the opening of this project for sometime. When we learned of Private Piestewa's death, we knew we needed to preserve her memory for the American public. We needed to complete the exhibit and make her a part of it. Her heroism and sacrifice were our incentive. When TriWest President and CEO David McIntyre called to ask how he could help, we knew we could make it happen."

For more information about the exhibit or the opening ceremony, call 703-533-1155 or 800-222-2294. The Women’s Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, is readily accessible by Metro (Blue Line) and paid parking is available

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