MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA --
Before the 19th
amendment was certified on Aug. 26, 1920, women’s right to vote was
non-existent. Marines, Sailors and civilians recognize the journey women have
taken and celebrated their accomplishments throughout history during a Women’s
Equality Day event at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina,
Sept. 2.
The celebration on
Women’s Equality Day means a lot more than a women’s right to vote. The day
signifies societies desire to value what an individual brings, rather than who
the individual is, explained Master Sgt. Arlene Collins the 2nd Marine Air Wing
equal opportunity advisor.
Women’s Equality Day
denotes time that was not spent in vein by all the women in our military and in
history who have come a long way, said Collins. It is beneficial to celebrate
the day that the hard work of all women is recognized by the rest of the
country.
Women should think
of this day as a milestone in our history and appreciate that we are able to come
together and celebrate this day as a country, said Collins.
“Women’s equality day
is a day of recognition,” said Michael Q. Arkin, the equal employment manager
at the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at Cherry Point. “It memorializes
the women who fought for their right to vote.”
“There were a lot of
struggles that women had to go through in the past to achieve what they have
today, and they all deserve to be honored,” said Arkin.