Maj. Gen Patricia E. McQuistion, the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, prepares to read a book entitled "Rachel" to Laura Rahaim's 4th grade class during the Women's History Month Read-To-Me program March 29 at the Vogelweh ...

1st Sgt. Kermit L. Joseph, the 39th Transportation Battalion's headquarters company first sergeant, gets help reading a book entitiled "Sky High" from 9-year-old William Jones during the Women's History Month Read-To-Me program at the Vogelweh Elemen...

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Soldiers and leaders of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command visited the Vogelweh Elementary School here March 29 to read to students as part of women's history month.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Kenya J. Dugger, the equal opportunity representative for the 21st TSC, the Women's History Month Read-To-Me program was organized as a way to educate the youth on the many and varied important impacts women have made on history.

During the event, the volunteer readers not only read books about famous women throughout history, but they also took time to ask and answer questions as well as talk to the students about the importance of women in society today and how women played a big role in shaping the U.S. and the world.

Women are 50 percent of the population, but receive very little coverage in the history books, so it is important to come down here and take the time to read to the students and promote not only reading but women's history as well, said Lt. Col. Edward L. English, the commander of the 39th Transportation Battalion.

During the Read-To-Me program, the students gave several volunteers a tour of the school and showed them projects they worked on in dedication to women's history month. The students also received a surprise visit from the commanding general of the 21st TSC, Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion.

McQuistion was greeted at the entrance of the school by student representatives from all the classes who were participating in the event. She then took time to sit down and read to a very receptive 4th grade class of 24 students.

"I think it's very important to see many different readers come into the classrooms but especially the senior leaders particularly because it helps the students see that important people like to read and do read and find reading important," said Susie W. Osinski, a 4th grade teacher at the school. "They always hear it from the teachers and their parents, but it's just good for them to get as much exposure as they can to different readers from different walks of life with different positions."

The 21st TSC's EO office plans to make the Women's History Month Read-To-Me program an annual event. According to Dugger, educating the youth on women's role in history is an important part of the command's EO program.