The 470th Military Intelligence Brigade's observance of Women's History Month featured a speech by state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte at the Fort Sam Houston Community Center "Big Area Tent" March 26.
In introducing the Texas legislator, Col. Pierre Gervais, brigade commander, addressed this year's theme, "Women's Education -- Women's Empowerment." He briefly recounted women's education in the United States, noting that women's attainment of higher education is a recent phenomenon.
"Today in our Army, we have women successfully leading at all levels and ranks. "These women are shining examples of our great nation, and so is our guest speaker today."
Van de Putte is serving her fifth term as a Texas state senator, following five terms as a state representative. In addition to other committee assignments, the lieutenant governor appointed her to chair the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee.
"It's the best job in Texas government," she said. "We all want to make Texas the best state for military and their families and for veterans and their families."
Turning to the theme of Women's History Month, she said. "This is one month you get to think about everything women did in our struggle."
Van de Putte shared part of her own struggle to become a pharmacist, her primary career. She first encountered obstacles to pursuing her primary vocation when she began high school in what she termed "systemic" discrimination against girls.
"You had to take algebra in your freshman year so you could take calculus in your senior year so that you could study to become a pharmacist in college," she said. "However, girls were discouraged from taking algebra."
Her persistence paid off -- she was one of two girls to take algebra in a class of 30. Ultimately she completed college and became a pharmacist, a vocation she holds 32 years later. She credits her father for encouraging her. When she was a child, whenever anyone said that she was a pretty little girl, her father immediately responded that she was the smartest girl in her class.
"Because he said it, I thought it might be true," she said, and that prompted her to try even harder.
The senator emphasized the importance of the home and the family in framing children's regard for their roles in society when they became adults.
"It's important that when we raise our sons … we set a good example," she said. "Jokes about gender should not be tolerated."
Van de Putte said we must value each individual.
"When we celebrate this month, we can celebrate our own daughters and granddaughters," she said. "When women work at it, they can achieve it."
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