News-Info-Alerts

Re: Women in Uniform: The Forgotten Soldiers

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: January 13, 2003

"Program will honor women of the military

By MEGAN CLAIR, Staff Writer


NEW BRITAIN -- The League of Women Voters is set to present Women in the Military: The Forgotten Soldiers, a panel featuring distinguished women who have served in the military.

"We were women who did things," said Frances Honeyman, an Avon resident who received an outstanding veteran’s award from Central Connecticut State University for her services during World War II. "We were a generation that was aware and got involved in the world around us."

Ruthe Boyea, a league member, has organized the event to showcase the varying experiences of women in the military and to share the overlooked accomplishments of the over 1.3 million women who have served in the military since the Civil War.

The presentation is scheduled for Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at the First Church of Christ Congregational located at 830 Corbin Ave. League members who have served in the military including Ellen Russak, president, Joanne Marino, Dorothy Davis and Boyea will be sharing their individual experiences along with presently active members of the National Guard.

"Women began serving in the military as spies and nurses during the Civil War," Boyea said. "And we have continued to serve during every military conflict since, but we have a different perspective on military service and war than men have."

Boyea, who was one of 400,000 women who served in the United States military throughout World War II, has presented this event in several different locations throughout the state and each time she said the program received an overwhelming response.

"We had very large turnouts each time," said Boyea. "It’s nice for us to share our stories because each one is unique."

Boyea was sent to a Florida Naval station and was a well-fare officer for the entire 14,000 person station. Boyea said Ellen Russak was stationed in a hospital in Germany during World War II. And Honeyman was an Army nurse who was assigned to a prisoner of war outfit.

Honeyman said one of her most anxious moments while serving was when she was transferred to care for Italian and German prisoners of war. Around the same time, Honeyman said own brother had been taken as a German prisoner of war after her plane was shot down.

"It tested your skills because I was always thinking of what they were doing to my brother," Honeyman said. "You want to be a good nurse but you’re still an American."

Honeyman said her brother did come home after being held prisoner for 404 days.
"I’ve always remained active in veteran’s groups," Honeyman said. "Always trying to give something back. It’s important for us not to be takers but to give and let others learn from what we did."

Boyea said Nutmeg Television will be taping the event. Those wishing to attend must call the League of Women Voters’ phone line at 224-1858. Sandwiches will be served and a $4 dinner donation is appreciated.

Megan Clair can be reached at mclair@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 223.

©The Herald 2002 "