FORT SILL, Okla., March 31, 2016 -- Strong women have always made their mark in history, and often somebody planted the seed of encouragement that helped them through tough times. That was the message of hope and encouragement given by Dr.Vickie Lindsey, chief of human resources at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, who was the guest speaker at the Women's History Luncheon at the Patriot Club, March 24.
"The seeds that were planted helped make me the person I am today," said Lindsey, who graduated from Lawton High School.
The wife of Fort Sill's Command Sgt. Major Brian Lindsey, said her mother was one of her biggest boosters. When Lindsey told her mother she was getting a divorce and didn't know how she was going to make it with two kids, her mother listened quietly. She then said, "Do you think you're the only person in this world who's gotten a divorce, and is raising kids by herself? She said, 'get it together, grow up, go to school and get your education. She told me to hold my head up.
"I feel like I'm a strong woman today because of her."
Another woman at her church gave her a moment of healing when she struggled with lupus and was exhausted, felt unattractive, and had gained weight from the medication. "She grabbed my cheeks and said, 'I know you are sick but you are the most beautiful person I've ever seen.' From that day I walked out with my big chunky cheeks, my big arms and legs. Here was a woman I admired and thought was so beautiful and she's telling me I'm a beautiful person."
A professor encouraged her when she did her first paper as a doctoral candidate. "There was so much red that the paper needed a blood transfusion," she said of the editing done to it. It made her feel like she wasn't really ready to embark on a PhD. But the professor told her to stop writing like she talked and to realize there will always be smarter people than her, but not to let that stop her from achieving her goals. "I stand before you, because she planted that seed," said Lindsey.
Lindsey said, "Men, you, too, can plant seeds in young women's lives, young Soldiers' lives." When she faced surgery from a tumor, her father said he had been on his knees praying. "'When I got up I saw you,'" she quoted her father. "'You had a head of gray hair and you were smiling so big. You're going to be OK."
"I believe because of those people in my life that I'm standing here. I know that there's going to be other people in my life who will continue to plant seeds and keep me going on this earth."
She mentioned several women who made a difference, and wondered if someone planted a seed in their lives. "Molly Pitcher, who carried pitchers of water to Soldiers and helped with cannon duty during the American Revolution. Michelle Obama, the first African-American First Lady of the United States, I wonder if her mother or friend or someone told her she was going to be somebody."
She talked about the first two female Army Rangers who graduated in August, and Fort Sill's Pfc. Katherine Beatty, the first female 13B cannon crewmember who graduated several weeks ago. She read the quote from Beatty's husband, Charlie, which was printed in the Tribune. "'She is a far better Soldier than I ever was, and she will outshine anything I've ever accomplished.'"
Lindsey said, "I encourage all of you to plant a seed. I challenge you to at least try to do it once a week, in somebody's life."
The luncheon's theme was "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government."
History-making women were spotlighted in a skit by Soldiers and civilians of RACH who portrayed them: Spc. Sasha Richardson represented Condolezza Rice, first African-American woman secretary of state; Pfc. Ashley Conlon, Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman Supreme Court justice; Paulette Ziegler-Coriano, First Lady Michelle Obama; Pfc. Holly Sampson, Dr. Mary Walker, Medal of Honor recipient; and Sgt. Kirsten Bussey, Gen. Ann Dunwoody, first female four-star general.
AWARDS PRESENTED
Awards were also presented to the Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter -- Sgt. John Hartley, and the Soldier of the Quarter -- Spc. Lawrence MacIntyre. Brig. Gen. Christopher Spillman, Air Defense Artillery School commandant and chief of ADA, presented the awards.
Hartley is assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery as a Multiple Launch Rocket System gunner. He was introduced by Staff Sgt. Devin Green, who said Hartley was "knowledgeable, enthusiastic, goal-oriented, an expert at his job, and most importantly professional. He has a strong hunger for success, not just for himself, but for his Soldiers and anyone within the organization."
MacIntyre, an assistant instructor in the Fire Support Vehicle section of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery. Sgt. 1st Class Wilson Castillo introduced the new Soldier of the quarter.
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