Round Five - The Gender Controversy: March 1983-1993

When the statue and flag are dedicated and President Reagan officially visits the Memorial in 1984, the move for a women's memorial has already been initiated. A statue is commissioned, the approval process we are familiar with begins, and the Secretary of Interior approves the plan, but the Commission of Fine Arts rejects it in October 1987. That triggers congressional action, and a bill authorizing a memorial is passed November 1988 and a bill authorizing the location in November 1989. A design competition is held in 1990, and the Women's Memorial is dedicated in November 1993.