Voices of Volunteers: Morgan Anderson
Voices of Volunteers: Morgan Anderson
In celebration of Women's History Month, we are sharing the stories of some of the amazing women on the National Mall - our volunteers!
With their unique backgrounds and perspectives, they enliven the National Mall and enrich visitors' experiences. These women share why they volunteer, what the experience means to them, and highlight some of the women who inspire them, both on and off the Mall!
Morgan Anderson has been volunteering at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial since its opening in September 2020, but her involvement began with the Memorial’s groundbreaking in 2017 as a member of Senator Pat Roberts’s team. Morgan is a native Kansan, and her childhood visits to Eisenhower’s home in Abilene first sparked her interest in Dwight Eisenhower, Morgan’s favorite president. Morgan's personal connections to Eisenhower and the Memorial give her a new perspective that has inspired many memorable visitor connections on site, including enriching Major General John F. Hussey, Commanding General of the 200th Military Police Command’s trip to the 34th President’s memorial.
Trust for the National Mall (TNM): The National Mall encompasses stories of many inspiring women, such as our First Ladies, those who marched for Women's Rights, the heroes represented in the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, icons such as Marian Anderson, and the founders of the National Woman’s Party. What women in your own life inspire you?
Morgan Anderson (MA): I am inspired by strong women all around me every single day, from my little sister and family, to my friends and my roommate, to the mentors I’ve sought advice from and learned from over the years, to the women I now work with every day, like my coworkers, my Chief of Staff and my boss, Congresswoman Liz Cheney. I am constantly inspired by their tenacity, their commitment to always do the right thing, and the hope they give me for the future. However, my biggest inspiration through and through is my mom, Janee’. She’s been a constant source of inspiration and support throughout my life.
TNM: Why did you start volunteering at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial?
MA: When I first started working for Senator Pat Roberts, one of the first projects I worked on was for the groundbreaking of the Eisenhower Memorial in the Fall of 2017. I was tasked with designing a series of graphics highlighting the Memorial and his work on it, and I remember the excitement of having a small part in honoring Kansas’s favorite son and my favorite president. I loved sitting down with that project and talking with the Senator and hearing his personal stories about his full-circle connection with President Eisenhower, from his father’s work with Citizens for Ike to his own work in creating a lasting memorial. Growing up in Kansas, we were taught about President Eisenhower’s legacy in school and took trips to visit and learn about his childhood home in Abilene. In a lot of ways, volunteering at the Memorial feels like a full-circle moment of my own, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help tell the story of an incredible Kansan.
TNM: What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the National Mall?
MA: Volunteering with the National Mall has been one of the best and most rewarding decisions I’ve made since moving to Washington, D.C. Growing up on trips for school or to visit family, we would visit D.C. and always made a point to stop by the National Mall. It feels great being able to give back to a place that holds so many memories and being able to help other families and kids make new memories of their own. As a volunteer, my time spent at the Eisenhower Memorial with visitors, other volunteers and staff has been great.
