November 11th is a day to remember all the people who have served the United States in the armed services.

The Des Moines Memorial Drive Advisory Committee held an event Wednesday to commemorate a specific group of veterans who have not always received the recognition they deserve--women.

Representatives from SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park and Des Moines were present at the event, along with U.S. Rep. Adam Smith.

A former trauma nurse in Vietnam, and current member of the Intertribal Warrior Society, Peggy Caudill said women have not always recognized as veterans.

"I always celebrate all veterans on Veterans Day, but I have to admit there was a time when I wasn't accepted as a veteran," Caudill said. "I have come a long way,"

She said there is no way to really describe what it was like to be a nurse in Vietnam, because she can't take you there. Caudill added part of her is glad people don't know.

Caudill noted that at her first opportunity she jumped at a chance to serve her country. After a year of training in the states she went over to Vietnam in 1967, working as nurse in a MASH unit.

Today she is a part of the Inter-Tribal Warrior Society, a Native American honor guard. Caudill proudly serves as the group's bugler.

"Women have had a long history with war. Serving in the military, or maybe not serving in the military, but serving," Caudill said. "And that goes back to beginning of our proud country and probably goes back to when the first person picked up a stone and chucked it at somebody else.

"Someone had to put the bandage on."

Rep. Smith thanked veterans, saying our country has all of the freedoms and opportunities it does because of people who are willing to fight for them.

"I honestly believe we live in the greatest country not just on earth but in the history of earth," Smith said.

"I think of the opportunities that I had. I grew up in a blue-collar family, not born wealthy or privileged, but I had a very good life from the day I was born.

"I had opportunity, access to an education, freedom, access to- -if I went out and worked hard-- a good job, the ability to raise my own family.

"You look around the world today you can see literally hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people who do not have those opportunities, those same freedoms, and the same prosperity that we enjoy.

"There (have been) times when the willingness of men and women in our society to stand up and put their life on the line, to fight to defend us, has made that possible, has made my life possible and has made the lives of everyone in this country possible."

Closing the afternoon was SeaTac Parks and Recreation director Kit Ledbetter, who discussed plans to improve Des Moines Memorial Drive and create a new park.

Des Moines Memorial Drive is an eight-mile stretch of road, along which 1,100 elm trees were planted, one for each person from Washington who died in World War I. There is a memorial wall with the names of the people who died in the war in front of Sunnydale school.

A new memorial plaza is being planned at North SeaTac Park, at the corner of Des Moines Memorial Drive and South 136th Street. The new plaza will feature a memorial wall.