From left, retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson, president of the Military Women’s Memorial; former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch; retired Army Maj. Gen. Jan Edmunds; and retired Army Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert are shown at a dinner Saturday at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., celebrating Women’s History Month. (Photo Provided)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of her capture in Iraq, Wirt County native Jessica Lynch was recognized over the weekend by the Military Women’s Memorial as the first female prisoner of war to be rescued.

Lynch was a 19-year-old private first class in the U.S. Army when she was captured on March 23, 2003, and subsequently rescued by American forces. As she recovered in German hospitals and then Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, she was largely unaware that she had become the face of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Over the next 20 years, Lynch underwent multiple surgeries and treatment to repair the injuries she suffered, both physical and mental, and has had opportunities to share her story across the country. She has obtained a teaching degree, worked in her home West Virginia school systems, acted in movies and served as a motivational speaker.

On Saturday, Lynch served as the keynote speaker at a dinner celebrating Women’s History Month. She was introduced by retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time of her capture, and presented with the Living Legend award by retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis J. Wilson, president of Military Women’s Memorial.

On Sunday, Lynch was honored at the Military Women’s Memorial Museum, where she was interviewed by retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert, senior vice president, military and veteran affairs, Comcast NBC/Universal. She then spent nearly two hours signing her book for more than 100 people.

Wirt County native and former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, left, is interviewed by retired Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert during an event Sunday at the Military Women’s Memorial Museum in Arlington, Va. (Photo Provided)

The Military Women’s Memorial honors the 3 million-plus women who have served in the U.S. military, keeping their personal stories in a database. However, less than 300,000 stories have been shared. Women who have served, or family members of women who have served, are encouraged to share their stories by visiting www.militarywomensmemorial.org and choosing Register Herstory.

Wirt County native and former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch looks through the Book of Casualties at the Military Women’s Memorial Museum on Sunday. (Photo Provided)

Wirt County native and former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch poses for a photo with the West Virginia flag Sunday at the Military Women’s Memorial Museum in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo Provided)