In a quiet corner of Cocke County, Tennessee, a centennial celebration recently marked more than just the passage of time. Agnes Lowe, a former World War II Cadet Nurse, turned 100 years old, surrounded by family, friends, and admirers dressed in her favorite color—pink. Yet, amid the cake and congratulations, Lowe’s milestone also served as a powerful reminder of a decades-long campaign: the ongoing fight to secure veteran recognition for the thousands of women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II.

Formed in 1943 through the Nurse Training Act—also known as the Bolton Act—the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps was a wartime response to a dire shortage of trained nurses. Hospitals across the country were overwhelmed, and the military’s growing medical demands only worsened the strain. In response, the federal government launched a bold initiative: offer young women accelerated nursing education in exchange for service in military, public health, Veterans Administration, and civilian hospitals. By the time the program ended in 1948, nearly 120,000 women had completed their training.

The program was critical to sustaining the country’s healthcare infrastructure during the war. “We did 80% of the nursing that was done on the Homefront, and we were credited with saving the healthcare system,” Lowe said. She also recalled that the Surgeon General at the time likened their contribution to that of the Marines on D-Day. These are striking comparisons, underscoring the scale and significance of their service. And yet, despite their uniforms and their sacrifices, Cadet Nurses were never granted military status. The original law explicitly prohibited it.

For decades, their contributions have been acknowledged in speeches, museum exhibits, and nursing histories. But the material benefits that come with veteran status—such as discharge paperwork, burial honors, or even the symbolic gesture of a service medal—have remained out of reach. Advocates argue that this omission is more than a bureaucratic oversight; it represents a failure to fully honor a vital chapter in American nursing history.

Now, at 100 years old, Agnes Lowe remains one of the most vocal champions of the movement to correct that oversight. Alongside fellow former Cadet Nurses and her daughter, Donna Penick, she has spent years lobbying Congress to pass the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act. The proposed legislation would grant honorary veteran status to Cadet Nurses, authorize an honorable discharge where appropriate, and permit service medals and grave markers recognizing their contribution. Importantly, the bill does not seek to extend full VA benefits or pensions, focusing instead on symbolic and ceremonial recognition.

In recent years, bipartisan support for the bill has emerged. Versions of the legislation have been introduced in multiple congressional sessions, including as recently as 2023. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has held hearings, and a coalition of nursing organizations—including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing—have voiced their support. Yet despite this momentum, the bill remains stalled, awaiting further action from lawmakers.

For those unfamiliar with the Cadet Nurse Corps, the issue may seem symbolic. But for nurses and historians alike, it is about more than recognition—it’s about rightful inclusion in the narrative of American service. These women were not auxiliary helpers; they were central to the wartime medical effort. Many were young, from rural communities, and stepped into the profession during a time of national crisis. Their service bridged public health and military medicine, often under intense pressure and with limited resources.

I found this detail particularly striking: despite their critical role, Cadet Nurses were never afforded the basic honors that typically accompany military service. No discharge papers. No burial flags. No official acknowledgment from the Department of Veterans Affairs. For Agnes Lowe and many others, the absence of these markers is not just a technicality—it is a gap in how history has remembered their service.

At Lowe’s recent birthday celebration, the tone was both festive and resolute. Alongside the joy of reaching a remarkable age was a clear message: the fight for recognition is not over. Lowe, Penick, and other advocates used the event as a platform to renew calls for congressional action. Their message was simple but powerful—acknowledge the past, honor those who served, and ensure that future generations understand the full scope of America’s wartime efforts.

As the nation continues to reflect on its military history and the diverse forms that service can take, the story of the Cadet Nurse Corps offers a poignant reminder. Service is not always defined by combat roles or battlefield deployments. Sometimes, it is found in hospital wards, in long shifts, and in the quiet resolve of those who answered the call in a time of need. For Agnes Lowe and her fellow Cadet Nurses, the hope is that their contributions will finally receive the recognition they deserve—not just in history books, but in the eyes of the nation they served.

Read more at nurse.org