Retired major general honors founder of Revere women veterans WWII memorial

On Monday, June 3, 2013, retired Major General Dee McWilliams, center, President of the Army Women’s Foundation, presented Eileen Merullo of Revere, second from right, with a check for $2,500 from the AWF and private donations. The money will help build a memorial to honor the 149 Revere women who served in WWII. Also seen are, from left, Morris Morris, of the Revere Allied Veteran’s Council, Mayor Dan Rizzo, and Nick Bua President of the Revere Veteran’s Association.

To gain support and solicit donations, Merullo hand wrote a letter and passed copies out. In the note, she wrote: “At last year’s Memorial Day services, I read aloud some of the names of men from Revere who served and died in WWII. It brought back memories of boys whom I had danced with at Spanish Gables, ice skated with on Olive Street ‘Pits,’ and swam in Revere Beach with, in my younger days. I thought, how wonderfully reading the names refreshed my memories. And then, I wondered if my sister Lois Haydock or my cousin Elinor Dillon, or the other 141 Revere women veterans, who also served during WWII, would even be remembered for their service.”

Merullo, 90, single-handedly collected almost 150 signatures to get the memorial approved.

PIctured: From left, Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo thanks retired Major General Dee McWilliams, center, who visited from Fort Lee, Virginia, as Eileen Merullo, a WWII army veteran, center, and Nick Bua President of the Revere Veteran’s Association admire the check for $2,500 from the AWF.

Merullo, McWilliams, and Morris, stand on the spot planned for a memorial to honor the 149 Revere women who served in WWII.

Last month, Merullo and Morris, both World War II veterans, attended a free Honor Flight to Washington DC to see the war memorials there. During the trip, Morris encouraged other attendees to support Merullo’s cause.