Posted By The Peak on Aug 24, 2020

Courtesy City of Scottsdale 

Aug. 24, 2020

Scottsdale resident Athena Wright is turning 105 Tuesday, and the city of Scottsdale is joining American Legion Post 44 and others to help her celebrate safely.A city resident since 2000, Athena was born Aug. 25, 1915, in Oxford, Mass. She was a registered nurse who earned Bronze Stars for her service with the U.S. Army in New Guinea and the East Indies during World War II. Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane has proclaimed Tuesday, Aug. 25, as “Athena Wright Day” in Scottsdale.

What:

Athena will be honored with a drive-by birthday parade as she sits safely outside.

Those driving by to say “happy birthday” include Scottsdale Fire, Library, Police,
Solid Waste, Water.

When:

9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25

Where:

Pueblo Norte — Five Star Senior Living  Map
7090 E. Mescal St. (northwest of Scottsdale & Shea)

More about Athena Wright

– as told by he daughter Diane:

Athena was born on August 25, 1915, in Oxford, Mass. After graduating high school she became a registered nurse and worked in New York City until 1941 when she joined the US Army. Since this was before Pearl Harbor, I asked why and she said that all the boys were joining up and since she was single she decided to do the same. She entered on Active Duty as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps in September 191at Ft. Dupont, Del. She was assigned to a medical unit and arrived in Australia in June 1942. She served in numerous station hospitals in Australia and at the 18th Station Hospital in the New Guinea jungle. During her time in the Pacific she married my father who was a Major in the medical corps, became pregnant (with me)and eventually returned to the states. She was relieved from Active Duty in December 1944. She received Bronze Stars for East Indies and New Guinea.

My parents settled in Washington, D.C. My father was induced to give up his commission to help set up the Veterans Administration where he worked in the Department of Medicine and Surgery until his retirement. My mother went to work at Mt. Alto Veterans Hospital (1950-1967). In 1968 she transferred to the National Institutes of Health where she remained until her retirement. She relocated to Scottsdale in 2000.