Fort Campbell honors achievements of local women

By Heather Huber, Fort Campbell CourierApril 2, 2009

FORT CAMPBELL, KY -- April 2, 2009 -- Since 1978, women in Sonoma County, Calif., have been celebrating their history every March. But it wasn't until 1987 that the month was officially declared National Women's History Month.

The Equal Employment Opportunity office on Fort Campbell takes it as an opportunity to educate the population about the history of women and to honor the achievements of local women.

"We learn from our mistakes, we learn from what we've done good and bad," said Gregory Stallworth, EEO director.

For the first time this year, the EEO decided to honor distinguished women from our community.

"I found some prominent organizations that do programs in terms of awards," Stallworth said. "Programs where they don't just celebrate women's history month but actually acknowledge distinguished women."

The EEO acknowledged 16 women from Fort Campbell and the surrounding communities at the Women's History Luncheon.

Among those women was former Speaker Pro-Temp of the Tennessee State Senate, Rosalind Kurita, who said she was flattered to have been invited because she's always had a special bond with Fort Campbell.

"It has always been important to me to help other women," Kurita said. "In some ways, that's how I became involved politically, just in trying to work to do more."

She added that working in politics had given her the unique opportunity to help people and that she was always looking to help other women get involved politically because helping others is an important part of being human.

"I would like to encourage other women to run for political office and to be involved and if they need my help, call me. I'm in the phone book."

Another honoree was Clarissa Freeman, the Civilian Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. A former Army spouse for 30 years, Freeman said the first Soldier she'd taken care of was her husband, and then her two sons and she just went on from there.

"I'm a people person and I have a love of our Army and a love of our people who serve - especially those who wear the screaming eagle patch," Freeman said. "You just have to always look at the other person and think what you might do to make his or her life better."

Among the entertainment for the luncheon where the top 10 choir students from Andre Lucas Elementary school singing the Star Spangled Banner and Agents of Change.

The main event, though, was a speech by motivational speaker Sheryl Johnson. As a child, Johnson was abandoned by both her parents and left to care for her younger siblings with little guidance of her grandparents, but still managed to finish school and even attend college.

She reminded the honorees to always take time to take care of themselves, first, otherwise they wouldn't be able to take care of anyone else.

"This is the period of achievements of great woman and struggles of the average woman are highlighted and celebrated," Johnson said. "We have to be aware of our surroundings and notice how much has changed in the last 100 years."