Courtesy Photo | Four phenomenal women read the poem "Phenomenal Woman" by Dr. Maya Angelou. Staff Sgt....... read more read more
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - President Barack Obama recently proclaimed March as Women's History Month, celebrating women's contributions to society. On March 21, dedicated Soldiers from the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade sponsored and participated in the Women's History Month celebration held at the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Theater on Camp Taji, Iraq.
The focus was on women protecting the environment, while dealing with challenges in society. The event's narrator and lead coordinator, 1st Lt. Katherine Arnold, 991st Transportation Company, 419th CSSB, 10th SBDE, and Churchill, Tenn., native, stated, "It is an honor and privilege to be a woman today and every day."
The guest speaker was a woman who has been confronted with obstacles and never wavered in her dedication to serving her country. 1st Lt. Latefa Muslim Ali, of Al Taji, Iraq, is one of less than 1,000 women serving in the Iraqi army. Serving as the first female medical officer, she talked about her experiences and how her dedication to her country did not waiver even when her daughter was kidnapped, which was done to intimidate her into quitting the military.
"Even when my daughter was kidnapped and my heart was breaking, still I stayed," she said when discussing her mission and how consequences of her service affected her personal life. "Latefa embodied the true, strong female spirit that's in every woman. Even in Iraq, it shows you can't put a woman down. Despite adversity, she stood up and said, 'No, I'm not going to show you I'm scared,' "commented Sgt. Tonie Pangco, a native of San Diego, and Soldier of Headquarters and Headquarters, 419th CSSB.
Four 'phenomenal' women read the poem "Phenomenal Woman" by Dr. Maya Angelou, a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director.
Staff Sgt. Kimberly Mimms, a native of Riverside, Calif., and San Diego native Sgt. Tonie Pangco, 419th CSSB, Staff Sgt. Loretta Fluck, a Elkhart, Ind. native, 1538th Transportation Company, 419th CSSB, and Sgt. Heidy Villa, a Fort Eustis, Va. native, 89th Trans. Co., 419th CSSB, read and acted out this author's words with feisty attitudes and spirit.
The scene was set with a single table with books on it: the women talked to each other as though they were a family. "I think it is great to be reminded of the hard work and struggle women took to rise up and show how we are all equal," said Fluck. "The Poem we recited "Phenomenal Women" was a great way of showing how we are all different and strong in are very unique ways."
Lt. Col. Kristan Hericks, commander of the 419th CSSB and native of Irvine, Calif., gave a special award, designed as a barrier, to Ali for breaking down walls, along with a certificate of achievement to Arnold and certificates of appreciation to the unit coordinators for this event. Food and beverages, coordinated by Kaneohe, Hawaii native, Master Sgt. James Waialae, of the 419th CSSB HHC Maintenance, were served to more than 70 people. The attendees also enjoyed receiving gifts, sent exclusively for this event by 1st Lt. Ashley Vines and the Verizon Wireless Government Support Services team, Huntsville, Ala.
The month of March was selected as a time to honor American women in 1978, when a Women's History Week was initiated; in 1987, the time period was expanded to a month.
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2009 20:17 |
| Story ID: | 32554 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 319 |
| Downloads: | 286 |
This work, Still I stay — The True, Strong Female Spirit: Women's History Month Celebration, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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