The Pentagon’s Gay Poster Child is Dying...

By EMILY ANNE EPSTEIN :Charlie Morgan, 47, faithfully served her country for the past 17 years, but for the first time ever, she will be able to celebrate Gay Pride Month openly alongside her peers.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Morgan will join the Pentagon on June 26, when the military will pay homage the LGBT community of servicemembers following the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

The repeal of the law happened just in time for Officer Morgan, who's battle with terminal breast cancer left her afraid that when she was gone, her wife and young daughter would not be recognized by the army.

Free: Charlie Morgan, 47, right, faithfully served her country for the past 17 years, but for the first time ever, she will be able to celebrate Gay Pride Month openly alongside her peers thanks to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Family: Officer Morgan's battle with terminal breast cancer left her afraid that when she was gone, her wife Karen, left, and young daughter Elena, right, would not be recognized by the army

'I would definitely say this last year has been amazing,' Officer Morgan, who serves in the New Hampshire National Guard, told ABC News. 'Most of us never felt we’d see this.'

Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon's General Counsel, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta even issued a video message thanking gay and lesbian members of the military.

'Before the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” you faithfully served your country with professionalism and courage,' Secretary Panetta said in the video. 

'And now — after repeal, you can be proud of serving your country, and be proud of who you are when in uniform.'

Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a policy that prohibited gay troops from serving openly and forced more than 13,500 service members out of the armed forces.

Proud: On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta issued a video message thanking gay and lesbian members of the military for their years of service in honor of Gay Pride Month

Celebration: Army Chief Warrant Officer Morgan will join the Pentagon on June 26, when the military will celebrate the LGBT community of servicemembers for the first time ever

He said that he remains committed to removing as many obstacles as possible to make the country's military 'a model of equal opportunity.' 'Diversity is one of our greatest strengths,' he said.

Gay advocacy groups rejoiced at the message and its sentiments, praising Secretary Panetta's commitment.

'A year ago, our brave gay and lesbian service members were still serving in silence due to the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law,' Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military.

Warrior: She and her spouse have fought vehemently against DADT and the Defense of Marriage Act

Serve: Officer Morgan, who serves in the New Hampshire National Guard, had to keep her civil union with her wife Karen a secret for more than 14 years

Mrs Sarvis said that Secretary Panetta has 'shined a bright light on how far we have progressed toward full LGBT equality in our military,' but also added 'there is still more to do.'

Officer Morgan had to keep her civil union with her wife Karen a secret for more than 14 years. The couple have a daughter, Casey Elena.

Because of DADT, the family had to purchase health insurance at full cost, a heavy burden.

Karen was also unable to get a military identification card, or any official recognition in case Officer Morgan lost her battle with breast cancer. She and her spouse have fought vehemently against DADT and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Pride: Unfortunately, the couple's joy with the repeal of DADT was marred with the news that Officer Morgan's cancer had come back and she was told she only had months to live