WBAMC honors pioneers of Women’s History

Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Soldiers and staff of William Beaumont Army Medical Center took a walk through history during the Women's History Month Observance at WBAMC, March 16. The observance featured The City of El Paso's District three City Representative, Emma Acosta, who spoke on the diversity females leaders bring to government and spoke about female pioneers in military service. This year's Women's History Observance theme is “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government” honoring women who have shaped America’s history and its future through their public service and government leadership.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.23.2016

Story by Marcy Sanchez  

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

FORT BLISS, Texas - Soldiers and staff of William Beaumont Army Medical Center took a walk through history during the Women's History Month Observance at WBAMC, March 16.

The observance featured Emma Acosta, the City of El Paso's City Representative for District Three. Acosta spoke about the diversity females leaders bring to government. She also highlighted female pioneers in military service.

This year's Women's History Observance theme is “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government” and honors women who have shaped America’s history through their public service and government leadership.

“Women have made many contributions throughout history,” said Col. John A. Smyrski III, commander, WBAMC. “(Women’s History Month) is a good opportunity for our military to celebrate our diverse organization.”

Initially recognized through a presidential proclamation issued in February 1980 as “National Women’s History Week,” the celebration of women and their accomplishments gained popularity through the 1980s.

In 1987, after years of celebrating women’s accomplishments in varying weeks of March, Congress recognized the entire month of March as “National Women’s History Month.”

This year’s observance included brief bios of service women who assisted in developing the nation.

“I wanted to give a little bit of history,” said Acosta, a native of El Paso, Texas. “It’s important for women to break glass ceilings.”

Acosta described initiatives in the city that were initiated by women but aimed at improving quality of life city-wide.

“You don’t realize what’s behind the beauty of many women,” said Acosta. “Just because they are beautiful doesn’t mean they don’t have a mind.”

Acosta described her satisfaction of knowing women are in the ranks of the nation’s military services.

According to the Army’s gender integration plan released March 10, the Army plans to open all occupations to qualified personnel regardless of gender no later than April 1, 2016. The integration will take place in four interdependent and enduring phases which began in 2013. The integration paves the way for qualified female Soldiers to serve in the Infantry, Armor and Special Forces.

“I think it’s wonderful that our president acknowledges the challenges that women have overcome to get to where we are,” said Acosta. “Without women, none of us would be here.”

• Date Taken: 03.23.2016
• Date Posted: 03.23.2016 15:50
• Story ID: 193305
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US