Mary Lange, a Vietnam-era veteran says that when she enlisted in 1968, she chose the Air Force because she thought their uniform “made you look more like a woman.”
However, Lange, a charter member of Wylie’s American Legion Hale-Combest Unit 315, also said, “I worked really hard to be able to be accepted for what I can do – – not because of my sex, not because of my age or not because of my preference for who I worship.”
Lange, who served from 1968 to 1972, was the guest speaker at the Thursday, Nov. 13, veterans luncheon hosted by the Murphy Chamber of Commerce. “I am so glad that I served, and I wish more people would serve,” she said.
Lange serves on the board of the Murphy Veterans Tribute (MVT) and was part of the team that brought the Wall That Heals to Wylie last month.
Mary Pat Elledge, president of MVT, thanked the city of Murphy for its donation of space in the City Hall parking lot and Reagan Rothenberger, director of community and economic development, said he expected the tribute would be completed next spring.
It will feature a bronze monument of a kneeling WWII-era soldier facing the flagpoles in front of City Hall. A walkway will be bordered by pavestones honoring veterans. The luncheon was sponsored by The BackYard Murphy.
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