March is National Women's History Month and the Bruce C. Clarke Library will have many books and media materials on display and available for checkout.
This year's theme is "Nevertheless She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight all Forms of Discrimination Against Women."
In 1987, Congress designated March as National Women's History Month. This creates a special opportunity in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities to recognize and celebrate the often-overlooked achievements of American women.
The National Women's History Project was established by presidential proclamation by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and develops the national theme and a list of honorees.
The 2018, National Women's History theme presents the opportunity to honor women who have shaped America's history and its future through their tireless commitment to ending discrimination against women and girls. The theme embodies women working together with strength, tenacity and courage to overcome obstacles and achieve joyful accomplishments.
Among this year's honorees is Linda Spoonster Schwartz who overcame a military injury to become one of the nation's leading veterans' advocates, focusing especially on the unmet needs of women veterans.
Schwartz has served our country, since 1967, as an Air Force nurse, veteran advocate and public servant. After 16 years of military service, she was medically retired after sustaining injuries in a 1983 aircraft accident, while serving as a USAF flight nurse. She looked to the Veterans Administration for help but found a pervasive attitude of neglect toward women veterans. Inspired to make a difference and impervious to her injuries, she earned a master's degree from Yale School of Nursing and doctorate in Public Health from Yale School of Medicine. In 2013, President Barack Obama nominated her to be Assistant Secretary of Veteran Affairs for Policy and Planning where she continued to fight for issues such as veteran suicide prevention, and survivors of military sexual trauma.
The Bruce C. Clarke Library has thousands of print and media titles by and about women in America and has a wealth of information in media, e-books, and digital reference materials.
(Editor's note: Waybright is the chief of community services for the Bruce C. Clarke Library.)
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