Service members celebrate women's right to vote

Photo By Staff Sgt. Amanda Tucker | Service members jog around one of the corners of the route for the woman's equality run at Joint Base Balad, Aug. 26, 2008.  

BALAD, IRAQ

09.02.2008

Story by Pfc. Amanda Tucker 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By Pfc. Amanda Tucker
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – In honor of the 19th amendment, service members of Joint Base Balad celebrated Women's Equality Day, Aug. 26, 2008. The theme was celebrating woman's right to vote.

The day began with Col. Therese O'brien, the commander of the 55th Sustainment Brigade, based out of Fort Belvoir, Va., and a native of Dellslow, W. Va., delivering the opening remarks before the woman's equality run at Holt stadium. The 5K run started at 5:30 a.m.

However, the festivities didn't end there. A luncheon took place, with O'brien as the guest speaker, at 11:30 a.m. in the Audie Murphy Room of the Oasis Dining Facility.

O'brien took the opportunity to address her fellow service members. She talked about all the great injustices women had been forced to live with throughout history. She spoke of how we as women at one time could not vote, hold elective office, attend college, or even gain custody of children. The room was quiet as the rise and fall of her voice filled the room with a tone of reverence to women like Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Stanton, ladies who stood up for women's rights in history.

"This is why we celebrate today. A long standing injustice was not allowed to stand. Women finally became a people [and citizens] in this country legally when they won the right to vote."

O'brien challenged the female military members to set the example for others, calling to attention the fact that females still had restrictions in the military. She pointed out women can not serve in direct ground combat, are not permitted to attend ranger school, can not be drafted and are not required to register with selective service.

"We must remain vigilant to protect all our rights and freedoms for all our people," said O'brien.

Although women still have rights to fight for, there has still been a large improvement from where the average woman's position was in society.

"We're doing it all now as opposed to how it used to be before these women had fought so hard to get women where we need to be," said Master Sgt. Tuynuykua Jackson, the equal opportunity advisor for the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). "We're in top positions; we're lawyers, we're judges, we're first sergeants, and we're sergeants' major. We just recently had Hillary Clinton, who was running for president. Everyone has the right to vote ... and have a voice," said the Biloxi, Miss., native.

• Date Taken: 09.02.2008
• Date Posted: 09.02.2008 07:01
• Story ID: 23111
• Location: BALAD, IQ