PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Women’s History Month stands as a reminder of the strength the U.S. Army has and will gain through having a high-quality and diverse all-volunteer force.
The Army story recognizes the historic achievements of female Soldiers and civilians of every race, class and ethnic background, who have defended the nation and strengthened the Army in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.
Today, women serve as Army Soldiers and civilians, significantly benefiting our nation, while positioning the Army as a diverse, equal, and inclusive organization where all who serve have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
More than 1,000 women are currently serving within the Active Component Infantry, Armor and Field Artillery branches. Since 2015, 114 women have successfully graduated Ranger School.
Approximately 35 percent Department of the Army civilians are women.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s message to the nation designated March 2-8, 1980, as the first National Women’s History Week.
“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation,” Carter’s message said. “Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well."
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.”
Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.”
In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”
These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
Later, March 8, International Women’s Day, was chosen as the focal point of the monthly observance.
As the nation and the U.S. Army continues to celebrate the observance, so does Picatinny Arsenal
On the heels of last month’s Black History Month presentation conducted by installation’s Department of Public Works, Chief of Business Operations Robert Amami, the DPW Directorate continued to spread knowledge on these important observances.
In a virtual presentation, titled “Women’s HER-Story Month,” DPW Director Enzo Palau, showcased the achievements and contributions of several women who helped changed the world, including Beulah Louise Henry, Rosalind Franklin, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, and others.
“President Carter was well-aware of the plight of women, and I suspect he studied the ‘her-story’ as a past-time; maybe that’s why he could speak with so much conviction and admiration regarding women’s contributions,” Palau said.
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