01 Jul 2023 Stories of Service and Legacy

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, AARP Arkansas and the Military Women’s Memorial of Washington, D.C., are pleased to present the traveling exhibit “The Color of Freedom: Honoring the Diversity of America’s Servicewomen,” which opened June 17 and runs until Saturday, Aug. 26.

“The exhibit details the lives of servicewomen who overcame obstacles of race and gender to find success in the armed forces,” according to the Military Women’s Memorial website. “While all women in the United States Armed Forces share a history of discrimination based on gender, women of color have faced barriers of gender, race and traditional cultural values in their pursuit of opportunity for service in the armed forces. 

“Through persistent efforts in demanding inclusion for their right to serve, women of color have seen their roles across society and all sectors tremendously expanded, including their presence in today’s military,” the website states.

An opening reception was held June 17. The Cabot JROTC presented the colors and a presentation was made by Phyllis J. Wilson, president of the Military Women’s Memorial. Wilson is a distinguished military professional with more than 37 years of service. Another presentation was made by Lt. Col. Sheretta Glover, who is with the Army National Guard and is Deputy State Surgeon. Between presentations, guests mingled while enjoying light refreshments and sharing their stories of service.

The Military Women’s Memorial is a one-of-a-kind tribute to America’s servicewomen, past and present. The memorial features an education center, interactive exhibits and a world-class collection of military women’s stories. The debut of “The Color of Freedom” comes just days after Arkansas proclaimed each June 12 henceforth as Women Veterans Day on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the decree that allowed women the right to serve in the armed forces.

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, located at 503 E. Ninth St. in downtown Little Rock’s MacArthur Park, relates Arkansas’s military heritage to local, state, national and international visitors. Located in the historic Arsenal Building – one of Central Arkansas’s oldest surviving structures and the birthplace of Gen. Douglas MacArthur – the museum collects, preserves and interprets the state’s rich military past from its territorial period to the present. The museum is open free to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information on exhibits and programming, visit littlerock.gov/macarthur.