Honor an American Trailblazer! Recognizing the service of Grace Banker with a Veteran Memorial Plaque Dedication Ceremony

Grace Banker, Chief Operator of the First Unit of the US Army Signal Corps during WWI will be recognized for her service with a Veteran Memorial Plaque Dedication Ceremony.

Please join us on Saturday, October 26th 2:30-4pm at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY at Main entrance at 29th St and 5th Ave.

Grace Banker was one of 223 bilingual (English-French) women telephone operators, popularly known as Hello Girls, who served in France in 1918-1919.  She began her service in France at Pershing’s General Army Headquarters.  The women were highly regarded by the officers for their dedication and efficiency on the switchboard.  Chief Operator Banker led the small group of the women of the Signal Corps who received orders to advance to the 1st Army Headquarters, just behind the front lines, for the American led campaigns at St. Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne.

Following the Armistice, she was assigned to President Wilson’s residence during the Paris Peace Talks, and she later transferred to Coblenz, Germany with the Army of Occupation.   Here she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for her exemplary service and leadership.

Upon returning home, after 18 months of service, she received the news that the Army did not recognize the women as Veterans.  They would receive no benefits, no bonuses and no Victory Medals.  A sixty year fight ensued to get their recognition.  Grace Banker died in 1960, seventeen years before the Hello Girls received their Veterans status.  (Only a handful of Hello Girls lived to see the day).   she did not live to receive her Veterans status, her headstone listed only her name and dates of birth and death.   Grace Banker was a hero of her time, yet, anyone walking by her grave would have no indication of her service.

In early January of 2024, (sixty four years after her death) during a tour of notable persons buried in Green-Wood Cemetery it was noted that Grace Banker’s headstone lacked any indication of her service to her country.  A call was made to Ryan Hegg, whose skills in organizing New York Veterans events would be invaluable.   then contacted Banker’s granddaughter, Carolyn Timbie and initiated the process of recognizing Grace Banker’s service with a graveside Veteran memorial plaque.

Read more about Grace Banker and get info on how to attend the ceremony on the gracebanker.org website here:

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