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    Soldiers celebrate women's history

    Soldiers celebrate women's history

    Courtesy Photo | 'Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Williams, 2nd Brigade Combat Team intelligence...... read more read more

    By Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
    2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

    FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – It was a celebration of history based on "her" story.

    On March 29 at the Forward Operating Base Kalsu dining facility, Soldiers gathered to celebrate Women's History Month.

    The theme of the event was Women's Art, Women's Vision, focusing on how artists and women share a passion for creating, and like visionaries, have plans for the future.

    "We've talked a lot about people in history, but I want you to know you are making history," said Col. Terry Ferrell, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, to the women in attendance at the event. "Each of you is a hero to someone back home."

    Knowing that many people back home view today's service women as heroines was awe-inspiring for many in the audience.

    Capt. Lea Lato, 2nd BCT intelligence operations officer, who served as guest speaker, reiterated this point by speaking of the respect one of her role models, Jane Gauger, had for women in the military.

    In her speech, Lato spoke about Gauger's own struggles, escaping with her mother from an abusive father, escaping from her own abusive marriage, all while raising two of her own children as a single parent struggling through college.

    "She never tells this story (of her past). The story she does tell is how proud she is of both her daughters. Her oldest daughter is an officer in the United States Military," Lato said. "When someone with as much strength and vision as she has thinks women serving in the military have gone through tougher things than she has, I'm honored."

    Lato, and the participants who performed poetry, song and skits, were honored at the end of the ceremony with certificates of appreciation.

    Women's History Month is one of five equal opportunity months celebrated by the Army yearly. The next monthly celebration occurs in May, which celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage.

    The next EO celebration will be April's "Days of Remembrance" for victims of the Holocaust.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.02.2008
    Date Posted: 04.02.2008 15:36
    Story ID: 18001
    Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ

    Web Views: 231
    Downloads: 112

    PUBLIC DOMAIN