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Joint Base Andrews commemorates Women's Equality Day

  • Published
  • By Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
  • 94th Maintenance Squadron
Joint Base Andrews, Md. --  Women's Equality Day is celebrated each year on August 26 to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment. It also calls attention to more than 208,000 female Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines proudly serving their nation throughout the Department of Defense.

At the request of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women's Equality Day. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a peaceful civil rights movement that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world's first women's rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

More than 2.5 million women have served in the U.S. military since the American Revolution. They began serving as Airmen during World War II in the Army Air Force, Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, and the Women Air Force Service Pilots, or WASP Squadron. These trailblazers served with distinction, breaking down barriers and paving the way for today's female service members.

Since Sept. 11, 2011, women have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars and more for their bravery. They return from combat deployments everyday with a wealth of expertise across the spectrum of what U.S. military members are doing today as part of the joint fight in combat, training, and humanitarian missions.

Joint Base Andrews commemorated Women's Equality Day with a celebration Aug. 22 at the Air National Guard Readiness Center in the Conway Hall Auditorium. Brigadier General Allyson R. Solomon, assistant adjutant general-air with the Maryland National Guard joined the celebration as a guest speaker.