US Cadet Nurse Wilkinson and Senator Bruce Tarr
Senator Bruce Tarr presented certificates from governor Charles Baker and the Massachusetts State Senate to 91-year-old Manchester-by-the-Sea resident Shirley Wilkinson for her service in the US Cadet Nurse Corps during World War 2.
On Saturday, September 21st, at the Manchester Historical Museum, Senator Bruce Tarr presented certificates from Governor Charles Baker and the Massachusetts State Senate to 91-year-old Manchester-by-the-Sea resident Shirley Wilkinson for her service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II.
It was an animated presentation surrounded by extended family on a stunningly beautiful day. Mrs. Wilkinson shared that her decision at 17 years old to join the US Cadet Nurse Corps “came in a dream while sleeping on Singing Beach.” She awoke with an epiphany to join the Corps, which trained young women to be nurses and fill gaps left back home left by those serving abroad and away during the war. Wilkinson was trained at Beverly Hospital and served there after training, rising quickly to become a department supervisor just one year later, at age 18. Wasn’t that a bit young?, Senator Tarr asked her. “Not really,” she replied.
Senator Tarr also announced legislation passed earlier this summer proclaiming July 1 of every year as “US Cadet Nurse Corps Day”.
The ceremony, and the official statewide marking of the day hits home: Wilkinson’s daughter is Sue Parker, president of the museum and the museum has had a summer-long exhibit honoring Manchester’s veterans and war-related contributions (such as the nursing corps) running since July.
