Today’s Veteran’s Day parade and celebration focused special attention on the contributions of the brave women from Sacramento who have served in the Armed Forces.

Women have served in the United States military since the Revolutionary War and Civil War, when they were disguised as men and fought alongside soldiers in the battlefield. Most women in the military in the 18th and 19th centuries were nurses, cooks, laundresses and spies or saboteurs. Women served again in the health corps in the Spanish American War and paved the way for the creation of a permanent corps of nurses in the Army and Navy beginning in 1901.

World War I brought a physical examination requirement for service members, making it impossible for women to continue disguising themselves as men in order to serve. In 1917, the Navy announced it would open enlistment to women beyond the Army Nurse Corps.

About 12,000 female Yeoman entered the Navy and filled a variety of jobs, including Sacramento’s own Lillie Todhunter.

Lillie was a 1917 graduate of Sacramento High School who resided at 1508 O Street. After graduation, she went to work for the Phoenix Milling Company but wanted to do something more.

By 1918, Lillie had enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Mare Island Navy Yard. Lillie reported on station in September as a Yeoman Third Class. However, by the end of the month, she fell ill with the Spanish Influenza. She died at Mare Island on October 21st and received a burial with full military honors, including a bugler sounding ‘taps.’ Just days after her death, the Sacramento Bee stated that a “search of government records by naval officials…develops that Miss Lillian Todhunter, was the first girl in the naval service to die in service to her country.”

Thank you for answering the call to serve, Lillie.

Here in Sacramento, we also celebrate Kiyo Sato, the eldest child of a Japanese-American emigrant family and another Sacramento High School graduate. She was attending Sacramento Junior College when World War II broke out, and her family was forced to leave their farm for prison camps in 1942.

Following the end of the war, her family returned to Sacramento and was able to keep their farm. Demonstrating her love for her country and commitment to our democracy, Kiyo joined the United States Air Force, completed her degree in nursing and achieved the rank of captain. Her family’s love for service and America was also demonstrated by her five brothers who all served in the military. She wrote a book about her experiences, and you can learn more about her in our Sacramento Public Library History Room.

Thank you for answering the call to serve Kiyo!

And a third Sacramento veteran highlighted by Mayor Steinberg this morning was Melissa Washington. Melissa is a Navy veteran, the daughter of a Bronze Star recipient and the wife of a Marine who deployed to Afghanistan. She is a disabled veteran, small business owner, speaker, author and most importantly a connector of women veterans from across the country.

And, as of 2015, she is the founder of the national membership organization — Women Veterans Alliance. She and several other women got together at one of our local Mexican restaurants and knew they had to do something to assist women veterans. They provide mentorship. They make sure women are receiving their full military benefits. And they work to ensure businesses do business with women veteran-owned businesses across the country.

We know that connections with others who have shared experiences make us stronger, and that’s Melissa’s gift to the nation’s women veterans.

Thank you for answering the call to serve, Melissa!

On this Veteran’s Day, we honor the service of all veterans and in particular women veterans like, Lillie, Kiyo and Melissa.

Thank you to all of our women veterans for your service.