I have been fortunate to have many choices in my life as a young woman.  Whether or not to go to college, get married, have children. Who to vote for, rent or buy, two doors or four doors? I am faced with choices every day and I am grateful for each one because so many women before me did not have those choices.  If I decided today that I wanted to join the military, I could walk into my local recruiting office and be welcomed. And I could do more than clerical work.

To the women of my grandmother’s generation it was not so simple. When World War II began they could volunteer their services, their knowledge, their skills and time to supporting the war effort, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, six thousand women did.  They were expected to do clerical work, since it was assumed that women would be better at that than the men would.  Soon it became clear that women could do a lot more than typing and filing. By mid-1942, women were allowed to enlist in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. They began taking over more and more responsibilities that had previously been held by men, but for less pay and lower ranks. By late 1943, the Auxiliary was dropped and women finally received the same pay and rank as the male soldiers who had done the same jobs.

These skirt and stocking clad soldiers were the first female American soldiers. To learn more about these groundbreaking women, join Mary Rasa from the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum when she comes to the Rising Sun Branch on March 20 at 7 pm. She will come in period uniform with other artifacts from the time to tell us about the daily lives of the first women to join the military. Call 410-658-4025 or click here to register.

Were any of your female family members active in the war effort? Share your family memories with us!

It’s that “most wonderful time of the year” again, and for me and many of us, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without the lights, the decorations, the presents, and (especially) the food!  It’s a time of over-indulgence and celebrations with family and friends, but the abundance we enjoy today was not always so. During World War II, with the war effort in full swing, rationing severely limited many things we now take for granted. Although this created some hardship, it was a small sacrifice that most were honored to make if it helped keep their loved ones safe and sound.  Still today, many of us are separated from our loved ones and may be struggling to make do with less.

Nothing evokes the feeling of Christmas like the music; the songs conjure up memories of Christmases past and how we celebrated with family and friends. Even now I find myself humming “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby.  Recorded during World War II, the melancholy lyrics of “White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” with their comforting images of home and yearning for family, touched the hearts of American civilians and soldiers alike.

Join us Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30pm at the North East Branch Library. In a period uniform, accompanied by holiday music of the era, she will be sharing images of Christmas during World War II, both at home and in military settings.  She will describe the decorations and how food was prepared, and will explain shortages and rationing and how that affected daily life. Take a step back in time with us, to hear about Christmas memories from those days.

What are your favorite holiday traditions and memories?