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Published: May 24, 2009

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx honored the women serving in the U.S. military at the 12th Annual Women in the Military Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Arlington Cemetery Women's Memorial.

The ceremony, held in advance of the Memorial Day holiday, honored servicewomen who died while serving their country.

"Women have served our nation from its birth to the present and have willingly laid down their lives for the cause of liberty," Foxx said in a news release. "Today we give honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."

In addition to memorializing those women who died in the line of duty, the ceremony also highlighted the service of women currently enlisted in the armed forces.

Senior enlisted women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard represented their fellow women service members.

During the wreath laying, Foxx acknowledged the sacrifices of enlisted women in each branch of the armed forces. Foxx specifically honored Army Master Sgt. Flora McKnight, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Min Sook Ellis, Navy Senior Chief Yeoman Dee Allen, Air Force Master Sgt. Dianna Kent and Coast Guard Master Chief Storekeeper Beth Dunn at the ceremony.

"Enlisted women play a critical role in the professionalism and readiness of our military," Foxx said. "The presence of the women here today testifies to the achievements of women in our armed forces."