Soldiers celebrate Women’s Equality Day

Photo By 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy | Maj. Mary Watson, equal opportunity advisor with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Sacramento, Calif., native, narrates the 90th Anniversary of Women's Equality Day, Aug. 26, in Memorial Hall, at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

08.26.2010

Story by 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy 

224th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Soldiers with various units celebrated Women’s Equality Day with an event held Aug. 26 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, marking the 90th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in America.

The event was hosted by soldiers with the 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). Maj. Mary Watson, the equal opportunity advisor with the 224th Sust. Bde., and a Sacramento, Calif., native, narrated the event and spoke to those in attendance.

“Change is often a gradual one and requires patience,” said Watson. “As for our event, I started out by explaining the history of Women's Equality Day and how, over time, W.E.D. has become the catalyst for women's equality in other sectors of society. I then showed how women's equality has influenced changes in the military from the Revolutionary War to the present.”

Watson gave a slide show of various influential women who made a difference in equal rights for women in America. Some of the women mentioned were Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Abigail Adams. She also played a series of videos and tributes to the sacrifices and contributions women have made throughout the history of the U.S. Her presentation invoked different emotions for those in attendance.

“As I watched the video presentations provided at the Women's Equality Day celebration, it inspired me, knowing what other women contributed to the military and to this great nation,” said Lt. Col. Renee` T. MacDonald, executive officer with the 224th Sust. Bde., and a Sacramento, Calif., native. “It motivates me to read or view contributions that people have provided to the growth of this nation. It was more difficult for me to watch the video presentation on our women fallen heroes, due to my previous experiences with fallen heroes.”

Women have served in various capacities in our military over the years, and continue to make a difference as equals.

“I truly believe that the Army is a pretty level playing field when it comes to equality,” said Lt. Col. Nicole Balliet, the COB Adder garrison commander, with the 224th Special Troops Battalion, 224th Sust. Bde., and an Atascadero, Calif., native. “Let's face it, our commander may be the only [female] O-6 commander in theater - pretty equal if you ask me. Yeah, the military has some jobs fields that aren't open to women, but that may one day change. For me, the military is a way of life. I have been doing this for more than half my life now. If it didn't support or promote equality, I wouldn't be here.”

• Date Taken: 08.26.2010
• Date Posted: 09.05.2010 10:54
• Story ID: 55749
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ