WAVES Units march on Washington Monument grounds The WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) were established on July 30, 1942 as a women's reserve corp for the United States Navy. WAVES were restricted to work within the United States. Many worked in Washington in <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/58">buildings on the Mall</a>, some of which stood where the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/62">Korean War Memorial</a> and <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/63">Vietnam Veteran's Memorial</a> stand today. In 1944, the WAVES held a rally on the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/36">Washington Monument</a> Grounds to celebrate the second anniversary of the establishment of the corps. In 1948, a law passed which granted women permanent status in the US armed services, and former WAVES became members of the regular service. National Archives at College Park. <a href="http://research.archives.gov/description/520613">View original</a>. 07/31/1944 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1920-1949">1920-1949</a>