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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CITY OF PALMDALE MEDIA ALERT CONTACT: John Mlynar PHONE: 661/753-6861 DATE: December 1, 2017 PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY WHAT: 100TH birthday celebration for World War II veteran Pat Murray of Palmdale. WHEN: TOMORROW, Saturday, December 2, 12 noon. WHERE: American Legion Post 348, 38030 6th St., Palmdale. WHO: U.S. Marine Veteran Pat Murray; Palmdale city officials, American Legion Post 348 members. BACKGROUND: Pat Murray was born Dec. 1, 1917. She was one of only 20,000 female Marines who served in World War II in support of the millions of men fighting in history's greatest conflict. When she was just 24 years old, Pearl Harbor was attacked, so she hung up her competition roller skates and left Toledo, Ohio, for boot camp at Parris Island. By the end of the war, Murray was promoted to sergeant for her work as a parachute rigger. Soon after, she left the service, went on to another career, got married, had kids and lived a vigorous life that only began a new stage when she retired in 1967. Murray is credited with getting a flagpole and flag erected at the Antelope Valley Mall, and with launching the drive to spruce up Palmdale's historic cemetery with its interments of dozens of servicemen from conflicts back to World War I. In 2014, Murray was named both the "Woman of the Year," and "Veteran of the Year" for California's 36th Assembly District. INFORMATION: Bobby Breech - 661/992-4949 -30- Communications Department • 38300 Sierra Highway • Palmdale, CA 93550 www.CityofPalmdale.org