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Show J xa TSgt. Veronica Thomas 7 VJf WW U V VS-- T fV3 fLJ Hilltop Times March 23, 1995 k. -- i VVS ots- ) I 15 c. - I Cheryl De Rosier VicW Wheeler BX celebrates Women's Recognition Day by Sue Berk Hilltop Times staff "Champagne anyone?" That was the question of the day at the base exchange on Friday in celebration of Women's Recognition Day. The day was filled with events that not only made employees feel special, but gave customers a chance to take advantage of many specials and activities. The day began with a ceremony honoring the women who work for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The common theme of the speakers was encouragement for women to take action. "A women today can to anything; you are only limited by your dreams," said TSgt. Veronica Thomas, 75th Air Base Wing Supply Flight. "Strive to make your dreams a reality." "Opportunities sometimes come very softly. Listen to your inner voice," said Cheryl De Rosier, Class VI Store manager. "Women need to stick together, sup- port each other and nurture ourselves," said Vicki Wheeler, wife of Col. Larry Wheeler. 75th ABW com- - mander."Through physical, mental and spiritual fitness we can grow as women." It was a day of specials, giveaways, demonstrations and makeovers. Customers waited anxiously to taste four types of champagne. As the corks began to pop. customers were given a strawberry to clear the palette. Cake, cheese and crackers were also served. Commentary Women making history every day by MaJ. Donna Miles U.S. Army Reserve ecently Americans sat merized by the televised U .rendezvous of the space shuttle Discovery and Russia's giant orbiting Mir space station. Breathtaking blue and white images flashed before our eyes as 245 miles above Earth the two nations' spacecraft flew just 37 feet apart at 17,500 mph, in something of a cosmic space dance. It was a proud day for space exthe success of a misploration sion that came within a hair of being scratched due to a leaky thruster. It was a proud day for United States-Russiacooperation, holding the promise of more and more ambitious missions ahead. And it was a proud day for military women. Air Force Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot the shuttle, proved to be more than just another "first" in the list of female firsts. Collins demonstrated she had the right stuff to carry out a challenging mission. We onlookers shared in her success. As we watched the Discovery and Mir crews waving to each other across the blackness of space, we felt proud. During Women's History Month, it's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of achievements like Collins". Hut it's also important to rememler n ever-growin- g America's women in uniform breakhaven't made their ascent ing down barriers and taking on without their new challenges share of tragedy and heartbreak. X v V V I Ssy r.-- 'n Every one of the women in uniform builds on the 165,000-plu- s proud traditions established by generations of women. Because, just as our spirits soared with Collins, so too did they crash last October when Navy Lt. TomKara Hultgreen and her cat made their fatal plunge into the Pacific depths. Like Collins. Hultgreen was another first among military women female the first carrier-qualifiecombat pilot. Sadly, she also became the first female carrier pilot to die in the line of duty. For most of the 165.000-plu- s women in uniform, the triumphs, the challenges and sometimes the tragedies of military service might ntense as they not always ! and Collin for were Hultgreen. But of one them, through dedicatevery F-1- f 4 NASA photo d F-1- 4 ed, day-b- y d builds on tli; j demotion to duty, ud traditions es- i tablished by generations of women. Women's History Month isn't a Col. Eileen Collins made history last month by being the first woman to pilot an American spaceship. Collins was at the helm of the shuttle Discovery when it launched Feb. 3 and when it glided to a perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center Feb. 11. Collins. 33. was selected as an astronaut in 1990. As an Air Force pilot, she has logged more than 4.000 hours in 30 different types of aircraft. Lt. time to remember only heroes of the past, like legendary Molly Pitcher, who delivered water on the battlefield and took her husband's place at the cannon during the Revolutionary War. or Harriet Tubman, who served throughout the Civil War as a nurse, scout, spy and guide for the Union forces. It's a time to honor the contributions of female soldiers, sailors, airmen. Marines and Coast Guard like Collins personnel today who and Hultgreen continually reach toward new challenges as guardians of the nation's defense. |