JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The 673d Air Base Wing will host the Women’s Equality Day on August 25, 2017, at the JBER Exchange from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Forty-six years ago, U.S. Representative Bella Abzug of New York introduced a bill designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day. The date commemorates the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which allowed women the right to vote, and recognizing women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.
“This event helps raise awareness for all members of the armed forces [and their families] to understand what women had to go through to get where they are today,” said Special Observance Committee President Tech. Sgt. Tavares Bradley, assigned to the 517th Airlift Squadron aircrew flight equipment. “The booth will provide information about history and the impact it had on the military.”
Bradley also credits Women’s Equality Day for opening the doors for females to openly serve in combat roles and for an officer to become the first female combatant commander.
673d ABW Equal Opportunity Specialist Ouida Morrison remembered how her grandfather would preach to their family members to register to vote when they turn 18.
“As a young child, [it] did not mean anything to me,” Morrison said. “At some point, I asked [my grandfather] why it was so important. He said he remembered when he was not able to vote so even as a child growing up, it was important to him to have our voices heard and have access to that political process.”
Morrison is an avid voter who has not missed an election since she became eligible to vote.
This year marks the United States 97th anniversary of women winning the right to vote.
Service members and their families will see a 30 to 40 second video clips that will give an insight into what the Women’s Equality Day is all about and flyers for them to read at the Exchange.