Memorial serves as poignant reminder of military service - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, July-August, 2001

Claire Bandy no stranger to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Bandy, a traffic management specialist in the Terminal Management and Readiness Division at MTMC Headquarters, is registered at the Arlington, Va., memorial as a woman veteran. The recently promoted Army Reserve lieutenant colonel has visited several times.

Bandy was among the scores of members of the Washington Chapter of the National Defense Transportation Association who visited May 19 as part of the recognition of National Transportation Day.

"It's a lovely building and has great potential," said Bandy. "The building is only three years old and volunteers have received lots of donations of uniforms and memorabilia, which they will use in the future for more displays."

Belisa Muchoney, of the American Trucking Association, Inc., was equally taken by her first visit to the memorial.

"It is incredibly beautiful," said Muchoney.

"The best thing, though, is the upper deck that allows you to look over the National Cemetery and reflect on the lives and losses of those who have served our country."

The upper level was also impressive to Dave Larson, of LANDSTAR.

"When the elevator door opens and you look out at the graves of Arlington cemetery, it is a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform today, along with those buried deep in the hallowed ground of our National Cemetery."

The evening was special, said John Romps, First Vice President of the Washington Chapter of the association.

"The weather was beautiful, but I don't think inclement weather could have detracted from the spectacular view across the river."

"The skyline, with the monuments in the distance at dusk, made my evening."

Also on his first visit was Denny Edwards, Marketing Director, of the National Defense Transportation Association.

"This is a well-deserved honor for all women who have served in the military and government," said Edwards.

The official hostess of the evening was Lorraine Dieterle, Director, Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc.

"I hear every kind of story here," said Dieterle, "some will make you laugh; others will make you cry. I try to tell visitors the funny stories."

One of Dieterle's favorite anecdotes is how one veteran first met her husband on an island in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

"She told me a Japanese plane was strafing, and as she rushed under a truck for protection, she bumped helmets with the man who would be her future husband!"