Hurlburt Field remembers ladies

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD Fla. --  The 1st Special Operations Wing celebrated the 91st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with a day of events in support of Women's Equality Day Aug. 26.

"The importance of celebrating [Women's Equality Day] is not just to recognize how far we have come, but also how far we have left to go," said Col. Ted Fordyce, 1st SOW vice commander.

The day, which calls attention to the continuing efforts to ensure equal opportunities for women, commenced with Fordyce, signing a proclamation officially recognizing Women's Equality Day at Hurlburt Field.

"We celebrate the innovative women who fought to uphold fundamental principles in our constitution, the right to vote, and in so doing protected the foundation of our democracy," proclaimed Fordyce.

The celebration began with a 5K run and included a blood drive and a support drive to raise donations for a local charity that primarily supports women.

"The Air Force always tries to give back wherever they're at, but the significance to women's equality is not only just women's right to vote but equality across the board," said Master Sgt. Jennifer Johnson, Air Force Special Operations Command Aircraft Maintenance & Operations superintendent.

Lisa Burns, spouse of Lt. Col. Robert Burns, 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron commander, echoed those sentiments in while supporting the day's events by running in the 5K.

"It's important to me, I have two daughters so I want to instill that in them," Burns said. "Women are equal. I want them to grow up and feel empowered."

Volunteers visited with children at Hurlburt Field's Child Development Center where they spoke about Women's Equality Day and asked children to draw pictures of women important to them.

The day concluded with volunteers visiting a local middle school class to discuss the importance of the U.S. Constitution and answer questions about women's equality and being a part of the Air Force.

"We're always trying to be equal and that's the significance of today," said Tech Sgt. Chloe Hayes, 1st SOW NCO in charge of occupational health. "We're still struggling, but when I wear the uniform I'm the same. I'm the same as you. I'm the same as anybody else, because the uniform is not going to discriminate against women, or against their age."