From left: Joe Genna, Laura Genna, Margie Barham, and Aurelia Genna at the exhibit honoring Margaretta Enferme Bowen at the Vineland Historical Society Museum. The Gennas are close longtime family friends of Margaretta Enferme Bowen and daughter Margie.
A carefully kept secret brought history, friendship, and family pride together.
Margie Barham thought she was simply representing NJHealth Team at an event at the Vineland Historical Museum. Instead, the director of public relations and special projects walked into a surprise that was personal, powerful, and decades in the making—an exhibit honoring her mother, Margaretta Enferme Bowen of Minotola.
A Life of Service, Brought Into View: Bowen served in the U.S. Army’s Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II as an operating room specialist and medical technician. She died in 2013 at age 90, but her story—and the uniforms and keepsakes connected to her service—have continued to carry deep meaning for those who knew and loved her.
“To say it was a surprise is an understatement,” Barham said. “The biggest surprise was that Laura kept this secret all this time. I know my mom would be honored and humbled by the display. She was such a patriot and loved every minute of the time she served.”
The surprise began at “Flags and Flowers” on Sunday, June 14, when the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society partnered with the Vineland Chamber of Commerce for an event celebrating Flag Day and America’s 250th anniversary. NJHealth Team was one of the sponsors for the event and hosted an information table that Laura Genna was manning. She immediately thought about longtime family friend “Margaret” who was in the WAC during World War II. While speaking with Borad of Trustees President Valerie Neuber about Bowen’s story, the idea for the exhibit emerged. From there, Genna helped quietly move the plans forward while keeping every clue under wraps, allowing Barham to arrive at the museum believing she was there for work. The result was the best kind of plot twist—a professional visit transformed into a deeply personal celebration.
“Keeping the surprise from Margie was not easy—especially because she notices everything,” Genna said. “But the moment she realized the exhibit was honoring her mother made every secret message and last-minute detail completely worth it.”
Inside the exhibit, Bowen’s uniforms and keepsakes did more than fill display cases. They invited visitors to meet her behind the history—a young woman who answered a nation’s call, brought medical skill to military service, and left a legacy her family still carries today.
“Margaretta Bowen’s story is what makes this area so rich in history and family ties. Her uniform tells us about her service, but the memories shared by her family help visitors understand the remarkable woman who wore it,” said Suzanne Martinelli, NJHealth’s CEO who was instrumental in getting Margie to the museum that day. “We wanted her to be surprised, and she sure was.”
Martinelli’s perspective adds another layer to the story, connecting the museum’s work of preservation with the personal memories that make an exhibit come alive.
One Uniform, Many Stories: The afternoon offered a cheerful reminder that local history is anything but dusty. It lives in photographs, carefully folded uniforms, family stories—and in the delighted reaction of someone who realizes her friends have been planning something wonderful behind the scenes.
For Barham, the exhibit was both a tribute to her mother and a gift to the wider community. Visitors now have a chance to discover her mother’s service, reflect on the contributions of women during World War II, and see how one hometown story can illuminate a much larger chapter of American history.
“She was an unsung hero,” said Naomi Ingraldi, secretary/treasurer of the museum, who worked with Genna and did the research on Margaretta Enferme Bowen for the surprise and display. “It causes us to reflect on the people she interacted with, cared for and brought comfort to during a terrible time in our history. She answered the call to serve. That is a brave and selfless choice. It’s an honor for the Vineland Historical Society to bring her story of service to life.”
Visit the Vineland Historical Society Museum to experience the exhibit and celebrate the people whose courage, skill, and stories continue to shape the community. The next open house is Saturday, November 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.
