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Fundraiser: First Woman Marine - Opha May Johnson Tribute Monument

Sunday, 01 Jul 2018 @ 10:00 PM Past Event
Fundraiser: First Woman Marine - Opha May Johnson Tribute Monument
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MISSION: The Woman Marines Association (WMA) has formed a committee to pay tribute and honor to Opha May Johnson, the very first female enlisted Marine. This historical tribute will include the restoration of the burial area to a pristine condition and to place a headstone to honor her service as a United States Marine.

WHO: WMA, Opha May Johnson Historical Monument committee. Email OMJP@womenmarines.org. Phone: (813) 318-2305

WHAT: Appropriate gravestone (monument tribute) to honor the Marine Corps' first woman Marine. Updates to committee progress, videos/photos of work completed will be added here. Cemetery plot restoration to include: proper leveling of site, appropriate grave marker with historical data.

WHEN: Tentative groundbreaking ceremony in June 2018. Unveiling scheduled for late August 2018.

WHERE: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

WHY: Opha May Johnson is an iconic figure in the history of women Marines. She joined in 1918, during WWI, at a time when patriotism was high and women were called to serve to fill billets that opened when men went to war. Since her passing (1955), there has not been an awareness of her location, until now. Upon learning that her grave was unmarked action started to formulate a plan to honor her with a monument that showed her pride as a Marine as well as her historic place in Marine Corps history.

Photo above taken Oct 2017: Opha and Victor Johnson are buried in the unmarked graves to the left of the Jacob Family Marker and the right of the water sprinkler with the orange flag on the left of the photo. The marker was centered on the four Jacob graves occupied by Ophas mother, father, brother and a female cousin.

Foot markers are an old tradition when a family stone covers a number of graves. The foot markers (that give the name and birth/death dates) are located at the bottom (foot) of each occupied grave. Foot markers are not on Opha or Victors graves at this time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: Why is Opha May Johnson (the first Woman in the Marines) in an unmarked grave?

Answer: Her grave was discovered a few years ago by concerned members of the WMA. Opha May Johnson is in a family plot but with no headstone or marker. Over the years, next of kin where attempted to be located. When the board members of WMA learned of this oversight, action began to remedy the situation.

Question: Where will my donation go?

Answer: Your 100% tax deductible donation will be sent to WMA ear marked for the Opha May project. Donations can be done on line through our Eventbrite site or mailed to WMA at P.O. Box 377, Oaks, PA 19456-0377. These donations will be used to fund the creation of the monument, the installation of the monument at the grave site and the perpetual care of the site once completed. If you donate via EVENTBRITE, you can immediately receive a receipt for your donation.

Question: Given the costs have we received estimates from more than one vendor in the area?

Answer: We have estimates from three different vendors. The Committee is reviewing these estimates to make sure we make a wise decision and one that is best for the project.

Question: What about perpetual costs for maintenance?

Answer: All three estimates include perpetual maintenance costs. The Cemetery also picks up some of these costs.

Question: Will there be a ground breaking or some event I can attend?

Answer: We will be having an unveiling event just before the WMA Biennial Convention in late August 2018. Specific date has not yet been set, but when it is we will make sure the it is well published for maximum attendance.

Question: Will there be any other recognition events at other museums for Opha May Johnson?

Answer: With 2018 as the 100th anniversary of the first woman Marine, it is anticipated that there will other recognitions. As more information becomes available, the details will be shared.

Question: Who do I contact for further information or questions?

Answer: Committee Chair Kathy Sheppard at email omjp@womenmarines.org.

Question: Is there a charge for using this website to donate?

Answer: Yes, there is a service fee (5%) that EVENTBRITE charges your card. The fee is directly associated with the amount that you donate. For example: A donation of $50 will have a $4.84 fee added. That said, if you are planning to donate a substantial amount, we highly recommend that you mail your donation to: WOMEN MARINES ASSOCIATION Atten: OMJP, PO Box 377, Oaks PA 19456-0377.

GET YOUR PROGRESS UPDATES BY VISITING THESE WEBSITES:

https://www.womenmarines.org

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenMarinesAssociation

MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OPHA MAY JOHNSON'S "FIRSTS":

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lr-evMT9d5-vHY_UsoxLB9Yxu26H_18kcWRycHQK9_E/edit
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