Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Jones | Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley acting senior...... read more read more
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“Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business” is the 2017 theme for Women’s History Month, which Junction City Mayor and former “Big Red One” Soldier Phyllis Fitzgerald spoke about at this year’s observance at the Riley’s Conference Center March 15.
“Women have proven time and time again that we can succeed in every field,” Fitzgerald said as she opened her speech at the event.
Fitzgerald entered the Army in 1978 as an Intelligence Analyst. After serving 10 years as an enlisted Soldier, she was accepted into the Warrant Officer Program and stationed at Fort Riley. She is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm where she was responsible for daily updates to the commanding general.
The National Women’s History Project, an organization of women that lobbied Congress in 1987 to designate March as National Women’s History Month, was founded in 1980.
During her speech, Fitzgerald detailed many monumental contributions made by such women in the past as Lilly Ledbetter, an equal pay activist who overcame many challenges as she fought for equality as a manager at a tire factory. Ledbetter’s persistence brought the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law in 2009.
“The law loosens the time restrictions on filing discrimination cases, allowing the 180-day clock to reset every time an individual experiences an act of discrimination,” Fitzgerald said. Prior to this change, employers were able to hide pay discriminations long enough to keep women unaware of the unequal pay until it was too late to file a complaint.
Fitzgerald then highlighted present-day leaders and female trailblazers at Fort Riley. Among those mentioned were Lt. Col. Julie Maxwell, the 1st Inf. Div. Sustainment Brigade support operations officer in charge; Sgt. 1st Class Sheneida Harvey, human resources noncommissioned officer in charge of personnel assigned to 1st Inf. Div.; and Diane Peters, Civilian Personnel Advisory Center director.
“Our military women have done so much and have broken through so many barriers along the way, all done in great pride and determination,” Fitzgerald said.
Master Sgt. Laura R. Moore, senior career counselor with 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and master of ceremonies for the observance, said she believes that her job gives her the opportunity to guide Soldiers through hurdles and help them achieve their goals in all of their endeavors.
“We as a society focus on success being that there is never failure,” Moore said. “But without failure, we never succeed.”
Music at the women’s history observance was performed by the 1st Infantry Division jazz ensemble. Spc. Florida Rodriguez, flutist, 1st Inf. Div. Band, is the ensemble’s newest member.
Rodriguez is presently working on her masters in music performance and will then go on to complete a Ph.D. in music so that she can teach and help music students earn their bachelors in the field. Her reason to serve her country and care for people echoes the purpose of the Women’s History Month.
Rodriguez said she feels it is her role is to support, encourage and challenge young females.
“When we play at the schools, and little girls come up to me, some of whom play the flute, and say, ‘you’re really good and I want to be just like you when I grow up,’ I feel really good,” Rodriguez said.
“It lets me know I am in the right place, doing what I can do to help others,” Rodriguez said.
Fitzgerald thanked the division’s Equal Opportunity staff for inviting her to speak.
“There are still trails to blaze and it is mine and your responsibility to continue to work on blazing those trails,” the mayor said. “It is our responsibility to continue to break down those mindsets, walls and ceilings because the dreams and opportunities are unlimited and reachable.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2017 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 227513 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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