FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Sept. 1, 2011--"We seek no rivalry with men, only cooperation; no political edge in Washington, only participation; no retreat from obligation, only a fair shot at opportunity." -- Lynn Yeakel, Vision 2020
In 1971, the United States Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women's Equality Day, in commemoration of 1920s passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave female citizens the right to vote.
Since that time, private and public organizations around the country have hosted events that center around the continuing efforts for gender equality.
Staff Sgt. Yukon Brown, Equal Opportunity leader for Fort Campbell's 86th Combat Support Hospital, wanted to go above and beyond the usual internal events held by his battalion in the past. He decided to invite two influential women to 86th CSH to speak to Soldiers about what Women's Equality Day meant to them.
This request brought Clarissa "TC" Freeman, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army for Kentucky, and Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan to Fort Campbell.
"I decided on McMillan because she was the first female mayor elected in Clarksville," explained Brown.
"Mrs. Freeman has been involved with Soldiers for many years. Her husband used to be a garrison commander here. She seemed pretty interesting when I read her background."
Freeman's words to the Soldiers reflected her years as an avid champion of Soldiers' rights and support.
"I'm aware of the great things 86th CSH has done and continue to do," said Freeman. "Our combat medics are exceptional."
She then went on to share stories about four women she felt made a real difference in the military and the country in general: Oveta Culp Hobby, Maj. Gen. Mary E. Clarke, Gen. Ann Dunwoody and Col. Laura Richardson. Lastly, she expressed admiration for her daughter, a defense contractor serving in Iraq.
"Our sons both served in the Middle East," said Freeman. "She said that her daddy and brothers had served, and now it was her turn. We were awfully proud of her.
"I am proud of all who serve," said Freeman, "but it is gratifying to see the impact women have had on our Army today."
For McMillan, the opportunity to speak at 86th CSH was important for a variety of reasons.
Before becoming Clarksville's first female mayor, she was the first woman in Tennessee history to be elected majority leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
It was also a chance to represent the state which essentially made women's suffrage possible by being the final state of the required 36 to ratify the 19th Amendment. The deciding vote, which took place Aug. 18, 1920, fell on a young legislator named Harry Burn, who had voted with the anti-suffragettes until an influential telegram changed his tune.
"It was from his mother," said McMillan. "It said, 'Harry, be a good boy and vote for suffrage.'"
To the dismay of the opposition, that is exactly what he did.
"That is one of the reasons I am proud to live in Tennessee and to be from Tennessee," said McMillan. "Not only do I think we do the right thing, but we also do what our mothers tell us. That's really important."
While McMillan applauded the military's strides in recognizing women's roles, she stressed that those same ideals needed to be applied in other places as well.
"We haven't gotten there yet," said McMillan. "If we had, we wouldn't be having Women's Equality Day."
This could be achieved, said McMillan, by realizing that women don't want to control everything; they merely want an equal shot at being able to participate.
"It was very educational," said Brown. "The Soldiers found out a lot of things they didn't know before."
Bringing such a message to the 86th CSH was important to Brown not only as an EO leader, but also as a Soldier in general.
"The United States is the vanguard for things like this," said Brown.
"A lot of places in the world don't give their women the same rights as the U.S. military."
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