WEBVTT 00:00.509 --> 00:04.050 - Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Reynolds, 00:04.050 --> 00:06.775 Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, 00:06.775 --> 00:09.794 distinguished guests. 00:09.794 --> 00:14.098 It is an honor to welcome you here today 00:14.098 --> 00:17.625 as we celebrate our 100th anniversary 00:17.625 --> 00:22.301 since our first female Marine, Opha May Johnson, 00:22.301 --> 00:25.149 took the oath of office. 00:25.149 --> 00:28.430 It wasn't long after we found out 00:28.430 --> 00:31.794 that Opha May was here at Rock Creek Cemetery 00:31.794 --> 00:34.609 that we knew immediately there needed to be 00:34.609 --> 00:38.225 a permanent legacy memorial 00:38.225 --> 00:41.146 for our first female Marine. 00:41.146 --> 00:45.069 Thank you to all who made this possible. 00:46.003 --> 00:49.643 Opha was from the state of Indiana. 00:49.643 --> 00:53.959 And it is now my pleasure to read what was 00:53.959 --> 00:56.118 put into the Congressional record 00:56.118 --> 00:59.937 on Tuesday, August 21st, 2018, 00:59.937 --> 01:03.510 from Senator Todd Young. 01:03.510 --> 01:06.878 "Remembering Opha May Johnson. 01:06.878 --> 01:11.258 "Mr. Young, Mr. President, August 13th, 2018 01:11.258 --> 01:14.305 "marked the centennial of women serving in the 01:14.305 --> 01:16.408 "United States Marine Corps. 01:16.408 --> 01:18.698 "I am proud that Indiana was 01:18.698 --> 01:20.389 "the home to the first woman 01:20.389 --> 01:24.179 "to serve in the Marine Corps, Opha May Johnson." 01:24.179 --> 01:27.837 Mrs. Johnson was born in Kokomo, Indiana, 01:27.837 --> 01:30.613 on May 4th, 1878. 01:30.613 --> 01:34.749 Before becoming a Marine at the age of 39 (laughs), 01:34.749 --> 01:38.499 she graduated from Woods Commercial Business College 01:38.499 --> 01:40.663 and worked diligently for 14 years 01:40.663 --> 01:43.678 in the Interstate Commerce department. 01:43.678 --> 01:46.751 Like many Americans during World War I, 01:46.751 --> 01:49.331 Mrs. Johnson heeded the nation's call and 01:49.331 --> 01:51.535 took the oath without hesitation 01:51.535 --> 01:55.153 on August 13th, 1918. 01:55.153 --> 01:58.505 She was the first of 300 women 01:58.505 --> 02:02.242 who worked at the Marine Corps headquarters in Virginia. 02:02.242 --> 02:04.949 After five weeks in the service, 02:04.949 --> 02:08.290 she was promoted to the rank of sergeant. (laughter) 02:09.414 --> 02:12.154 We wish we had that expediency. (laughter) 02:13.719 --> 02:15.773 She remained on active duty 02:15.773 --> 02:18.800 until February 1919, 02:18.800 --> 02:21.720 three months after the end of World War I. 02:21.720 --> 02:24.432 Mrs. Johnson remained in civil service 02:24.432 --> 02:28.380 until her retirement in 1943. 02:28.380 --> 02:32.955 Mrs. Johnson was the first in a group of trailblazing women 02:32.955 --> 02:34.418 in the Marine Corps, 02:34.418 --> 02:37.490 and it is with overwhelming pride that I recognize her service 02:37.490 --> 02:39.041 to this country. 02:39.041 --> 02:41.768 As a Marine and a Hoosier, 02:41.768 --> 02:44.706 I ask that you join me today in honoring 02:44.706 --> 02:47.597 Opha May Johnson and all the courageous Marines 02:47.597 --> 02:50.290 following in her footsteps. 02:50.290 --> 02:53.501 Today, the world will know of the 02:53.501 --> 02:56.172 legacy of Opha May Johnson. 02:56.172 --> 02:59.551 It is now my honor to introduce 02:59.551 --> 03:03.089 the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 03:03.089 --> 03:06.399 General Robert B. Neller. 03:06.399 --> 03:09.322 (applause) 03:17.977 --> 03:19.587 - I remember Portland. 03:19.587 --> 03:21.614 (laughter) 03:21.614 --> 03:24.400 So I'm a little nervous about tomorrow night. 03:24.400 --> 03:26.097 (laughter) 03:26.097 --> 03:28.962 And then, when I heard Dr. Brown, 03:28.962 --> 03:31.484 I remembered why I was nervous. (laughter) 03:31.703 --> 03:33.345 No, this is exciting. 03:33.345 --> 03:36.896 And the energy that she has 03:36.896 --> 03:39.899 and that you all help generate is a big deal. 03:39.899 --> 03:43.499 And this is a big deal, so thanks for allowing me to be here today. 03:44.713 --> 03:46.810 It's an honor and a privilege to take part in this event, 03:46.810 --> 03:49.379 and Cathy and everyone else who had anything to do with it. 03:49.379 --> 03:52.040 I really appreciate your effort. 03:54.489 --> 03:56.999 So for the Women Marines Association and everybody else, 03:58.279 --> 04:00.758 with whose efforts this would not have been possible, 04:00.758 --> 04:02.955 I'd ask you to join me again in a round of applause 04:02.955 --> 04:04.420 for everybody who had something to do with it. 04:04.420 --> 04:07.920 (applause) 04:10.405 --> 04:12.171 So think about that. So a hundred years ago, 04:12.171 --> 04:13.749 this month. 04:13.749 --> 04:17.697 The idea of a woman being a Marine. 04:17.697 --> 04:20.345 It's a pretty significant thing. 04:20.345 --> 04:24.501 Certainly, I'm sure, not without controversy at the time. 04:24.501 --> 04:27.077 (laughter) That said, 04:27.077 --> 04:31.064 given the opportunity, as Senator Young, who was a Marine, 04:31.064 --> 04:34.182 in addition to being from Indiana... 04:34.182 --> 04:37.243 Hundreds of women eagerly volunteered to serve. 04:37.243 --> 04:40.247 For the first time, they were granted that opportunity. 04:41.361 --> 04:43.110 You know, think about that, that's two years before 04:43.110 --> 04:46.997 national suffrage in this country, when women were allowed to vote. 04:49.784 --> 04:51.290 So there's gotta be somebody's who's first. 04:52.820 --> 04:54.899 That was Opha May Johnson. 04:54.899 --> 04:58.031 She was a civil service worker at Headquarters. 04:58.031 --> 05:02.442 And on the 12th and 13th she enlisted in the Reserve. 05:04.773 --> 05:06.619 Three hundred others joined her that day. 05:06.619 --> 05:08.611 She was 39, she was married. 05:08.611 --> 05:11.104 I have her enlistment certificate. 05:11.104 --> 05:13.628 Her husband, Victor, 05:13.628 --> 05:16.508 signed at the bottom as next of kin. 05:17.811 --> 05:20.275 And by all accounts, she was a great performer. 05:21.489 --> 05:25.128 And following her discharge in February of 1919... 05:26.271 --> 05:28.232 Again, I remind everybody that we're going to celebrate 05:28.232 --> 05:30.770 the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I 05:30.770 --> 05:32.642 here coming up in November. 05:32.642 --> 05:36.011 She then continued to work as a civil servant 05:36.011 --> 05:39.893 for our Marine Corps, retiring in 1943. 05:41.923 --> 05:46.710 By 1947, Women Marines became part of the force 05:47.799 --> 05:50.199 and their active duty recruitment began. 05:50.199 --> 05:53.025 But because of Opha May 05:53.025 --> 05:55.491 and those like her in an era of change, 05:55.491 --> 05:59.056 the women took their place in our Corps. 05:59.056 --> 06:00.676 And in every war and conflict since, 06:00.676 --> 06:04.452 women Marines have continued their proud and honorable service. 06:05.633 --> 06:08.110 So today we're here to recognize 06:08.110 --> 06:10.632 Ms. Opha May Johnson as the first, 06:13.110 --> 06:16.044 and because of her and countless others like her, like many of you here, 06:16.044 --> 06:18.928 female Marines continue to shatter stereotypes, 06:18.928 --> 06:21.694 break the molds, and etch a new narrative 06:21.694 --> 06:24.503 into the history and legacy of our beloved Corps. 06:25.926 --> 06:28.231 So I'm very proud 06:28.231 --> 06:31.425 of the history of women Marines in our Corps, 06:31.425 --> 06:33.048 what you represent, what you contribute, 06:33.048 --> 06:35.197 and what you do that makes us stronger. 06:35.197 --> 06:37.911 The contributions of women Marines today 06:37.911 --> 06:39.997 alongside their brother Marines 06:39.997 --> 06:44.045 continue to allow us to excel in every clime and place. 06:45.170 --> 06:47.581 But this memorial to Opha May Johnson 06:47.581 --> 06:49.592 serves as a visual reminder to all 06:49.592 --> 06:52.784 that through hard work, dedication, 06:52.784 --> 06:54.241 strength and commitment, 06:54.241 --> 06:56.936 any Marine can reach any goal. 06:56.936 --> 07:00.023 Opha May Johnson set the standard for determination 07:00.023 --> 07:04.264 and commitment to excellence, and today's women and all Marines 07:04.264 --> 07:07.092 are proudly following in her footsteps. 07:07.092 --> 07:09.168 Thank you very much for allowing me to be here today. 07:09.168 --> 07:12.102 (applause) 07:29.119 --> 07:31.890 - At this time, the time has come, 07:33.102 --> 07:37.825 I would like to invite General Neller, General Reynolds, Betty Moseley Brown, 07:37.825 --> 07:40.584 and our past national presidents to come up 07:40.584 --> 07:42.955 and unveil our monument. 07:46.286 --> 07:48.889 Ready? One, two, three! 07:49.791 --> 07:52.901 (applause and cheering)