Team Edwards celebrate 89 years of women's rights in America

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Edwards recognized Women's Equality Day with a luncheon sponsored by the Air Force Flight Test Center and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and hosted by the 95th Air Base Wing in the Oasis Community Center Aug. 26.

The event is held annually Aug. 26 to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in America.

"Overall, the event was well received," said Heidi Gesiriech, Joint Test Training and Tactics and CH2M Hill community relations supervisor. "We received a lot of positive feedback from young Airmen who attended that said they had learned a lot about diversity."

The event was kicked off with an ice breaker, where attendees discussed topics related to women's equality.

"The topics varied from facts about the suffrage movement to some current events," said Ms. Gesiriech. "The topics prompted people to think about equality and share their views as well as hear the views of others."

The keynote speaker for the event was Jennifer Cole, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Aerodynamics and Propulsion branch chief. Ms. Cole spoke about taking advantage of the challenges and opportunities she encountered on her way to becoming an Aerospace Engineer.

"I was told time and time again that there was no future in (Aerospace Engineering) and I should pursue something else," said Ms. Cole. "But I knew this is what I loved, it was my passion and I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

James Lucero, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity said that he was impressed with the accomplishments of Ms. Cole.

"She is a trailblazer in her field," said Mr. Lucero, "In 2007 she was selected as the best person for her current position, despite being the only female applicant and one of the youngest."

Elizabeth Doss 95th Environmental Management executive officer, said she enjoyed the event because it helped her to reflect on what people have gone through to be where they are today.

Looking back and seeing what so many people - not just women- went through for the rights I have today was the most interesting part," said Ms. Doss. "(Remembering our past) is important because in our daily lives we tend to forget; we forget the sacrifices of others and we take our freedoms and our rights for granted. For me, this helped me to gain an appreciation for things I take for granted, things even as simple as the right to vote."