PRESS PHOTO BY LOU WHEELANDBrig. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb, commander of the Southern Regional Medical Command and Chief of Army Nursing, presents the American flag to Gen. Anna Mae Hay’s oldest nephew, Dan McCabe, an Emmaus native now living in Gardnerville, Nev. Copyright - Lou Wheeland
Members of the Pennsylvania Military Honor Guard arrive at the interment ceremony for U.S. Army Retired Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays at Grandview Cemetery, South Whitehall.PRESS PHOTO BY LOU WHEELAND Copyright - Lou Wheeland
A fitting farewell for a general
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 by LOU WHEELAND Special to The Press in Local News
Members of the Military Forces Honor Guard of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a fitting salute to the late U.S. Army Retired Brig. Gen. Ann Mae V. Hays, 97, at Grandview Cemetery, South Whitehall, as she was laid to rest Jan. 12 with full military honors.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Daniel J. II. and Matie (Humphrey) McCabe.
A graduate of Allentown School of Nursing, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Columbia University and Master of Science degree in nursing from Catholic University of Washington, D.C.
Hays was the first woman to be promoted to the rank of general in the United States Armed Services.
She was promoted to brigadier general on June 11, 1970.
Attending her funeral service were military dignitaries as well as her nieces and nephews.
