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Team Shaw celebrates Women’s History Month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Destani K. Matheny
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Team Shaw hosted a Women’s History Month panel, March 12.

Airmen, soldiers and community members came together to provide a space to speak on and honor significant contributions women have made to our country and united forces.

“It’s an honor to be here to take the time to remember and celebrate those trailblazing women who came before us,” said Col. Laura Baugh, 20th Medical Group commander. “Throughout American history, women and men have worked together to build our nation. Too often however, the contributions of women go unrecognized and their stories are lost over time. Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to tell those stories.”

Throughout the discussion, volunteers shared their personal stories and spoke to the accomplishments of women throughout time.

“I have always had mentors in my life, male or female,” said Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox, Sumter School District superintendent. “The males just could not give me the information that I needed in the way the women could, because they had walked in my shoes. I encourage every young woman to get a mentor they can look up to like that.”

In March 1980, former President Jimmy Carter declared that March 8 was officially the start of National Women's History Week. By 1987, Congress declared the entire month of March Women's History Month. Since then, every president has declared the month of March Women's History Month.