[applause] in 1985, and frank murkowski 's daughter is now -- frank murkowski's daughter is now in the congress. i was asked in december of 1986 to be on the board, and in january, 1987, i joined the board because there were only five general officers or admirals in the area. and i knew the others were not going to do this and i felt one of us had to do it so i said i would. and i did and i intended to do what generals do so well, make comments. and in march, i got a phone call, i was sitting at home and one of the members of the board said why were you not at the meeting? i said what meeting? she said the board we are on. i said i forgot about it. what did you do? she said, we elected officers. you are the new president. and that was 29 years ago. this month. so, the first year i had to think through this because i was not sure if we should build a memorial because we had worked very hard to integrate ourselves as women with the men and should we build a memorial that is -- that segregated women and i finally decided as i began to talk particularly to the world war ii women who had se