The U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca Military Equal Opportunity Team hosted the Women's Equality Day Observance at Alvarado Hall here, Aug. 26.
"Celebrating Women's Right to Vote" is this year's theme, commemorating the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the equal right to vote.
"Today we remember the accomplishments of so many brave women before us who fought valiantly for the right to vote," said Lt. Col. Candice Frost, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, during her opening remarks. "Our link to this theme ties directly to the military we honorably serve and defend and the Constitution of the United States."
The youngest female trainee currently assigned to Fort Huachuca, Pvt. Jenna Clifton, Company C, 305th MI Bn., then read the Joint Resolution of Congress which designated Aug. 26 of each year as Women's Equality Day.
Next, Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Brown, Medical Command, read the 2014 Presidential Proclamation for Women's Equality Day.
As quoted from the proclamation, Brown said, "'When women are given the opportunity to succeed, they do. Younger women graduate college at higher rates than men and are more likely to hold a graduate school degree. They are nearly half our workforce, and increasingly they are the primary breadwinners for families. But too often, the women and girls who lift up our Nation achieve extraordinary success only after overcoming the legacy of unequal treatment."'
Henrietta "Hank" Huisking, Sierra Vista City Council member, served as the guest speaker for the event, placing emphasis on the importance of voting and reminding the audience of the struggle women throughout U.S. history faced and conquered for that right.
"Today in Arizona, women all over the state are exercising their right to vote in the primary election," Huisking said. "And those who voted will help determine local and state leadership for the next two to four years."
Following the speech, event organizers played a video about the history of women's right to vote and the Equal Rights Amendment.
After the video aired, Huisking said, "The message is pretty clear. Celebrating the right to vote is only part of the equation. If we truly want to make a difference, we must participate. Talk is cheap, but an informed voter going to the polls with a goal to be fairly represented, now that is real power."
Closing the observance, Frost presented awards to Clifton, Huisking and Linda Brown, Network Enterprise Technology Command, who sang the national anthem.
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