Mary Lange, a Vietnam-era veteran, speaks at the Nov. 13 luncheon.<\/p>\n
Mary Lange, a Vietnam-era veteran says that when she enlisted in 1968, said she chose the Air Force because she thought their uniform \u201cmade you look more like a woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Lange, a charter member of Wylie\u2019s American Legion Hale-Combest Unit 315, also said, \u201cI worked really hard to be able to be accepted for what I can do \u2014 not because of my sex, not because of my age or not because of my preference for who I worship.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cI am so glad that I served, and I wish more people would serve,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n