Visitors to the Canadian War Museum are getting the chance to hear directly about the experiences of women who lived through the Second World War or other war conflicts as part of the museum’s ongoing World War Women exhibition.
Titled “War — In Their Own Words,” the program features volunteer interpreters who walk within the exhibition and engage in conversation with visitors on an informal basis.
According to the museum’s learning specialist Sandra O’Quinn, these women are sharing personal stories about how war or conflict has affected them. The volunteers may talk about war experiences that “range from military service with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during the Second World War to service as a medical doctor with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.”
O’Quinn says the museum complements the exhibition by finding volunteers whose stories link to the major themes of military service, paid civilian work, volunteering, domestic pressure and worry and loss.
Marjorie Kelly, a retired nursing officer, is a volunteer with the program. Kelly, 82, served with the United States Army Nurse Corps for 20 years.
Kelly, a Canadian from Riverbend, Que., was living in the United States and joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1968, when they were recruiting for nurses to serve during the Vietnam War.
However, she was sent to Japan instead and served as a community nurse there for two years.
Later, Kelly was transferred back to the United States and worked in various places in that country.
After serving as a nursing officer for 20 years and six months, Kelly decided to retire.
With a strong passion in arts and history, Kelly decided to come back to Canada and volunteer at the Canadian War Museum, she says.
“I think by sharing my story to the public, there might be a greater appreciation for what nurses do,” says Kelly.
“It’s a good career for women, with good pay and pension, and we get good respect. I served as a lieutenant-colonel until I retired.”
“It’s a satisfying career. It’s great to see that we contribute to the well-being of soldiers and their families,” says Kelly.
Dr. Stacey Barker, a historian who curated the exhibition, says the main message of World War Women is that Canadian women not only chose to become involved in Canada’s war efforts in 1914-18 and 1939-45, they also coped with the changes that war brought to their lives.
“We worked hard to create an exhibition that would give visitors a sense of what Canadian women faced during both world wars, and I think we succeeded,” says Barker.
“The ‘War – In Their Own Words’ program complements the exhibition nicely, and helps us attain our goals.”
“The public could learn from these volunteers’ stories because it is an opportunity for visitors to the exhibition to hear personal stories, make human connections and discover new perspectives on events,” says O’Quinn.
The program will be available until the exhibition ends on April 3.