As close as possible to 13 February 2005, the guests and members of Women Marines Association chapters across the country will celebrate a pivotal event in the history of women in the United States:  the 62nd anniversary of women serving in the United States Marine Corps.

It was in the uncertain days of 1943 when the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Thomas Holcomb, confronted the manpower shortage of World War II, and acknowledged that the Marine Corps could not accomplish its mission of winning the war without womanpower. To make the recruitment of women more palatable to the public, the catchy slogan, "Free a Man to Fight," was coined and widely promoted. The slogan had the advantage of being true.

Although wartime necessity required the recruitment of women into the Marine Corps, attitudes about the proper role of women in American society were slow to change. A possibly apocryphal memo said to have been found in the files of the Director of Women Marines some years ago began as follows: “It is rumored that when it was announced that women would be enlisted in the Marine Corps that the air was colored with profanity in the language of every nation as members of the Old Corps gathered to discuss this earth shattering calamity. It is entirely probable that the wailing and moaning that went on that day was never equaled. Never, that is, until it was announced that the women Marines were going home. Then, with a complete reversal of attitude, many of those same Marines declared that the women in their offices were essential military personnel and could not be spared from their duties.”

Our grateful country continues to acknowledge the contributions that women Marines have made to the Marine Corps and the preservation of our nation’s freedoms. We honor the courage of each woman who volunteered to serve our country during World War II and broke new ground for all women who serve today.