Former First Lady Betty Ford, Secretary of the Air Force Shelia Widnall and Top Military Women Are Among Illustrious Array of Honorees

Women's International Center (WIC) proudly announces the event of the year: the 1998 Living Legacy Awards Presentations. The San Diego based non profit foundation welcomes former First Lady and true humanitarian Betty Ford to receive the Living Legacy Award. Secretary of the Air Force and educator, Shelia Widnall, had confirmed to accept the Award at the 1998 presentations. The senior women, and other remarkable women, representing all branches of the United States military received the Living Legacy Patriot Award.

LTGEN Claudia Kennedy (USA), VADM Patricia Tracey (USN), LTGEN Carol Mutter (USMC), BGEN Marcelite Harris (USAF Ret), CMD Vivian Crea (USCG) and BGEN Lillian Dunlap (USANC Ret), among the military stars receiving honors at the 1998 ceremonies.

Actress Anne Jeffreys, science writer Robin Rector Krupp, gospel singer, Lily Fern Weatherford and the Arthritis Foundation National Volunteer Chair, Debra Lappin are also Living Legacy Award Honorees.

The Living Legacy Organization Award will be presented to the Arthritis Foundation, the Leukemia Society and the United Service Organization (USO.) Also being recognized is the Women of the American Military Memorial Foundation; accepting is the Foundation's Board President BGEN Wilma Vaught (USAF Ret.)

The 15th annual awards anniversary presentations took place at the San Diego Marriott and Marina, March 7, 1998. The theme for the event was the 1940's. The 1998 ceremonies was dedicated to the Women of the United States Military.

With the cooperation and assistance from Secretary of the Army, Togo West; Secretary of the Navy, John Dalton; Secretary of the Air Force, Shelia Widnall; Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles Krulak and Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral R. E. Kramek, Women's International Center had the opportunity to welcome the highest ranking women officers, among other extraordinary leaders, from each branch of the United States military. Each military woman received the Living Legacy Patriot Award.

For more information contact Gloria Lane at Women's International Center at (619) 295-6446 or fax at (619) 296-1633.