The Monument to Women Veterans nonprofit began construction last month on a museum and monument in Pensacola. The project is approximately 10 years in the making, and it is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. The organization itself has a fierce mission to “pursue the development of a monument to honor all women, past, present, and future who served in the U.S. military and provide often unmet critical resources for female veteran care.”
The woman leading the charge, Michelle Caldwell, is a force to be reckoned with. Caldwell is a veteran herself with a passion for helping others and causing change. She has worked extensively with various groups and programs to both serve and better the lives of veterans.
Caldwell has many accolades and accomplishments under her belt. She was chosen to go to Washington D.C. to represent all veterans and speak on behalf of the needs of veterans for Concerned Veterans of America. Caldwell also received the National Award of Excellence for serving veterans and is passionate about recognizing and honoring the 2 million women that make up the veteran population.
In 2011, Caldwell founded the Monument to Women Veterans. The monument will acknowledge, empower and honor the military women who have served their country. Elizabeth MacQueen, critically acclaimed sculptor and artist, has been selected to create the monument. The formidable structure will be over 30 ft. tall and will feature flames and a laser beam over a stainless-steel, elliptical band of flowing water. The monument will be surrounded by figures of women from each branch of service in uniforms depicting their roles in various military rankings.
The monument is only half of the extensive project. The Museum to Women Veterans will also be constructed directly across from the monument in the old Amtrak train depot. In 2018, the city of Pensacola agreed to a 100-year lease of the dilapidated Amtrak train station for the Monument to Women Veterans to establish a museum to honor female veterans.
The museum will feature dynamic displays of women from each branch of the U.S. military, and the monument will serve as a marker for the courageous women who sacrificed so much to serve their country. The Monument to Women Veterans nonprofit is making successful progress to finally recognize and honor our country’s female veterans.