Posted on May 27, 2013
Aunt Annie, my mother’s older sister, was born in 1909, and she never married. Neither did Aunt Frances, my husband’s aunt, who was born in 1916. Both of these ladies lived truly remarkable lives.
Annie D. Ramsay in her nurse's uniform, taken around 1942.
Aunt Annie lived in New York and was a nurse at St. Luke’s hospital for many, many years.
Aunt Frances lived in San Diego and was a commercial artist who did fashion layouts for Burdines. In later years she was an award-winning water colorist living in Selma, Alabama.
Annie and Frances had a lot in common, although neither of them ever met. They were both born in the south, but soon moved away to big cities in the north and west. They were both strong willed and spoke their minds plainly. They were both fiercely independent. And both Annie and Frances served America during World War II.
In fact, Aunt Frances and Aunt Annie are the only veterans in the family. Annie was an Army nurse in England, where she cared for wounded American airmen. Aunt Frances served in the Marines in California doing a variety of clerical jobs.
Frances Lanier, USMC. This is a self-portrait in water color that Frances painted in the 1940s sometime. I do not have any photographs of Frances in uniform. But this little painting, which is unfinished, really captured her.
Aunt Annie passed away a long time ago—in the early 1980s. There were no military honors at her funeral. At the time I didn’t really think much about it. No one did. Her military service was acknowledged in her eulogy, of course, but so was her service as a nurse and a d
edicated church woman. No one ever made a big deal about what she had done during the war. Looking back, I’m really sorry about that. I think for a long time we in America undervalued the service of women in the military, and I know we undervalued that aspect of Annie’s remarkable life.
But times have changed. Aunt Frances passed away last year and she was accorded full military honors at her funeral, including a flag-draped coffin, and four marines as pall bearers. Her flag has a place of honor in our home. My husband was truly moved by the way the marines honored her service to the country. And that is as it should be, for all veterans regardless of gender.
On this Memorial Day, I’m remembering Annie and Frances – two strong women who served their country. Although they are no longer here, they continue to inspire me every day.
