Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Senator John Heinz History Center (1212 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)
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Events | In-Person Events

The Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC) invites you to a special memorial tribute celebrating the life and legacy of WWII Navy WAVE codebreaker Julia Parsons, who passed away on April 18, 2025, at the age of 104. This event will take place on National Women Veterans Day, June 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.​

Julia Parsons was a pioneering cryptologist who served in the U.S. Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during World War II. Stationed in Washington, D.C., she worked in the Shark Division, decoding German Enigma messages from U-boats in the North Atlantic. Her contributions were instrumental in the Allied efforts during the war. ​

Beyond her military service, Julia was a cherished member of the Veterans Breakfast Club community. Her stories and presence inspired countless individuals, especially women, highlighting the vital roles women have played in our nation’s history. ​

The memorial event will feature guest speakers, and attendees will also be invited to share their own stories and tributes. This gathering aims to honor Julia’s remarkable life and the indelible mark she left on all who knew her.​

Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025

  • Time: 10:00 AM

  • Location: Senator John Heinz History Center (1212 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)

To RSVP, please call 412-623-9029 or email betty@veteransbreakfastclub.org

Women Veterans Day is observed annually on June 12 to honor and recognize the service and contributions of women in the United States military. The date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. This landmark legislation allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for the first time in American history, rather than only in times of war or emergency.

Before 1948, women’s service was often limited to temporary wartime roles, such as those filled by the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), the Army WACs (Women’s Army Corps), and the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots). The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act changed that, giving women the right to pursue long-term military careers.

Join us in celebrating the life of Julia Parsons, a true American hero whose legacy continues to inspire.​