News>Incirlik celebrates Women’s History Month throughout March
Photos
Airman Samantha Allred, 39th Security Forces Squadron, peers down the barrel of a M240B machine gun while working patrol on the Incirlik flightline, March 9. Airman Allred, with her fellow 39 SFS personnel, is responsible for providing security for the United States Air Forces in Europe’s largest weapon’s storage area. Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout March to highlight American women of the past, present and future, and their tremendous accomplishments throughout the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Wilson, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs)
Senior Airman Chantel Wallace, 39th Medical Operations Squadron, rinses the teeth of Maya Singh, daughter of Maj. Walter Singh, 39th Medical Group, during a routine examination, March 9. Airman Wallace is one of many dental technicians who help ensure Incirlik’s Airmen are fit to fight. Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout March to highlight American women of the past, present and future, and their tremendous accomplishments throughout the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Wilson, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs)
Senior Airman Christa Lewis, 39th Medical Support Squadron, performs an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test on a vial of blood, March 9. The test measures the rate at which red blood cells settle in a predetermined amount of fluid and is commonly used to diagnose such diseases as multiple myeloma, temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, various auto-immune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic kidney diseases. Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout March to highlight American women of the past, present and future, and their tremendous accomplishments throughout the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Wilson, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs)
Senior Airman Sandra Sandoval, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron, operates a 4,000-pound forklift in an Incirlik warehouse, March 9. Airman Sandoval assists in the management of $4.9 million in war reserve material, support agreement reimbursements of $2.3 million, a 21,070 line item stock record account, 7.9 million gallons of fuel storage and 928 vehicles. Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout March to highlight American women of the past, present and future, and their tremendous accomplishments throughout the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Wilson, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs)
by Senior Airman Heather Stanton
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
3/10/2009 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Women's History Month officially began in 1987 when Congress expanded the event from a week-long celebration to the entire month of March highlighting American women of the past, present and future, and their tremendous accomplishments throughout the years.
Women's History Month is celebrated throughout many states, cities, schools and workplaces, and Incirlik is no different.
"We celebrate this month with ceremonies and activities to remember the many contributions of courageous women who have made our nation strong," said Master Sgt. Maria Dillingham-Greene, 39th Medical Operations Squadron and WHM committee chairperson. "We are standing on the shoulders of women who came before us. We must remember their struggle for equality."
This year's WHM theme is "Women Empowering Women," and Incirlik is celebrating it with a host of events taking place throughout the month.
"We have weekly activities planned," said Tech. Sgt. Krishonda Garcia-Nunez, 39th Medical Support Squadron and WHM committee public affairs representative. The activities began with a 5K fun run March 7.
"Next, we are kicking it up a notch and embracing this year's theme with one of our very own teaching us how to better protect ourselves with a women's self-defense class from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 12 at the Fitness Center," said Sergeant Garcia-Nunez. Also, a pre-teen self-defense class for ages 12-18 will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 14 at the Fitness Center.
A WHM Celebration Breakfast is scheduled for 8 a.m. March 18 at the Consolidated Club featuring singing, dancing and a powerful guest speaker, said Sergeant Dillingham-Greene.
"Finally, after celebrating the fabulous women at Incirlik and all over the world, we will wrap up WHM with an Empowerment Symposium focused on the specific needs of women, from financial discussions, to women's panels of various backgrounds to topics of the utmost importance such as hormone replacement therapy and being perimenopausal," said Sergeant Garcia-Nunez. The symposium is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27 at the Consolidated Club.
"The events and topics were carefully thought out to give women a boost and provide all who attend a positive outlook on challenging situations," said Sergeant Dillingham-Greene. "All may attend: Women, men and children."
Sergeant Garcia-Nunez believes the reason for WHM was best explained by Eleanor Roosevelt: "Women are like teabags. We never really know our strength until we find ourselves in hot water."
For more information on Incirlik's WHM activities, contact Sergeant Dillingham-Greene at 676-7323.
