Last year, historians at Rockford’s Veteran’s Memorial Hall & Museum opened a scrapbook in their archives and unearthed a Rockford first! On April 3, 1940, the women of Rockford founded W.A.S.P., the Women’s Ambulance Safety Patrol. Within months, this effort spread to 15 states and was the first women’s ambulance program in the country. Of course, when the W.A.S.P. program initially grew, they established a patrol in DeKalb and Sycamore! Mary Rose Fillip will share this story during her talk on Saturday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m.

There was no information about these women online, but after several months of intense research, this story and pictures are ready to be showcased. Learn more about this amazing story and see if you might be even related to the 200+ women involved in this effort! This story is a living legacy and is expected to grow as more information comes to light.

The program was researched by and will be presented by Mary Rose Fillip, a volunteer at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall & Museum. Mary Rose moved to Rockford in 2013. She enjoys local history & believes Rockford is a wonderful place to call home.

This is a free presentation for anyone interested, though donations are welcome. For more information, call 815-895-5762 or visit dekalbcountyhistory.org. Fees to visit the exhibit “Crossroads: Changes in Rural America” apply. The exhibit is free for children and members and $5 for adults. The DeKalb County History Center is located at 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore.