Character, Courage, Commitment: Lajes community celebrates women's history month

by Capt. Mark Graff
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2014 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Men and women of the Lajes Field community celebrated Women's History Month at a luncheon here, March 20. The luncheon, part of a series of events in March, was hosted by the 65th Air Base Wing Women's History Month Committee.

The 2014 Women's History Month Theme is "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment." A series of luncheon speakers did just that.

Keynote speaker, Chief Master Sgt. Tracy Lewis, 65th Medical Group superintendent, explained that during the course of her Air Force career, she's witnessed numerous changes in women's roles in the Air Force.

"When I was younger, men did not want to work for women in leadership roles and we had to correct them, so that's some of the stuff that happened (even in the Air Force)," said Lewis, a 29-year Air Force veteran.

Lewis argued that Air Force women are shaping the course of history, especially while stationed in or deployed to foreign countries where women have lesser roles in society.

"(People from those countries are) seeing the men interact with the women like we're equals, because in the Air Force we are," the chief said to female Airmen in the audience. "They see women doing jobs that (some women) can't do right now and they see you excelling at them. So you're all a primary example... of helping those countries move forward."

"I am so proud to be a part of this Air Force. Until you stop to think where (women) have come from, you don't realize we've all been part of history," she said.

Four Lajes Field Airmen offered short stories honoring women who had made a significant impact on their personal lives, in their professional field or to women's rights, in general.

Emmeline Pankhurst was a key figure in early women's suffrage movements, explained Airman 1st Class Lateen Chatman, 65th Medical Support Squadron outpatient records technician.

Pankhurst led the militant women's rights group Women's Social and Political Union that fought for women's suffrage in Britain in the early 1900s.

Capt. (Dr.) Joshua Storey, 65th Medical Operations Squadron family medicine physician, enlightened the audience on the accomplishments of Dr. Virginia Apgar, a female doctor who revolutionized obstetrics and neonatal care. Apgar created the "Apgar Score," a grading system that evaluates the health of newborns.

Capt. Maria Jean-Drummond, 65th Medical Operations Squadron nurse practitioner, and Maj. Billy Shaw, 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, talked about their mothers. Each relayed tales of their mother's hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Jean-Drummond's mother, Julianna Jean, raised four children and owned and operated a restaurant in Castries, St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Jean then moved to New York City where she worked at Marriott East Side Hotel and was twice named Employee of the Year.

Shaw's mother, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) Ann Shaw, overcame the death of both of her parents as a teenager and ended up living in an orphanage. There, she was inspired to join the military by learning about military life from a U.S. Army soldier who volunteered at the orphanage.

Breaking from standard military event protocol, military spouses were asked to provide closing comments.

Melinda Bargery, wife of Col. Chris Bargery, 65th ABW commander, and Micaela Boling, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Alan Boling, 65th ABW command chief, both expressed hope for continued improvements in gender equality and recognizing women's accomplishments

Boling encouraged women to make their opinions known as a means for social progress.

"If you haven't gotten into the practice of speaking up and letting your voice be heard, please start doing that," Boling said. "So many women have paved the way and really given it their all and spoken up when it was hard and when it was unpopular."

Bargery detailed the variety of jobs she's held and noted the freedom she's enjoyed in her professional life.

"In my life, I have worked at a Sears store, I have been a waitress in three different restaurants, I was a resident advisor in my college and after graduating... I was a teacher in Montana and the Philippines briefly," said Bargery. "Here's the thing: military spouse, wife, mother and teacher are the jobs that I choose as my life's work, and I love it. (Because) of all those women who have gone before me, I am free to make the choice that I've made to live my life as I have."