Team Buckley celebrates Women’s Equality Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha Saulsbury
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Team Buckley members celebrated Women's Equality Day Aug. 26 with a handful of events including distributing of flyers, participating in a peaceful protest, and reenacting key women leaders from the early 1900's.

Women's Equality Day was established Aug. 26, 1971, by U.S. Respresentative Bella Abzug commemorating the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Today, it is celebrated in honor of modern day women's rights to be seen as equals to men.

"The best mentors in my career have been women," said Col. Darren Buck, 460th Space Wing commander's individual mobilization augmentee.

Volunteers peacefully reenacted an early 1900's boycott, holding signs that read "Equal Work for Equal Pay" and "The Status Quo Must Go." A few also dressed as iconic women such as Maya Angelo, Nichole Malachowski, Marilyn Monroe and Sojourner Truth, and spoke about the impact these key women leaders made.

The day closed with a presentation given by Paula Sarlls, a woman who served in the Marine Corps in 1966. Sarlls was one of only 2,500 women in the corps during that time.

"When I turned 18, I joined the Marine Corps," Sarlls said. "My life has never been the same."

Sarlls ended her Women's Equality Day speech with the three most important lessons she has learned throughout her career in hopes that they will empower today's women.

"Be bold, be brave, and believe," she said. "Find your own strength in whatever you do."

 

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