FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Team Bragg members celebrated Women's Equality Day Aug. 26 with a combined yoga exercise at the Polo Field and an observance at the Conference and Catering Center hosted by the 43rd Airlift Group and Team Bragg's Equal Opportunity Office.
The celebration marked the 95th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Women's Equality Day is a symbol of women's continued fight for equal rights and that the United States commends and supports them. Today, it is celebrated in honor of modern day women's rights to be seen as equals to men.
During the observance, women's suffrage movement actors, dressed in traditional period clothing, role-played with the event's attendees, answering questions and explaining what they accomplished for women's equality.
Guest speaker Kady-Ann Davy, Fayetteville mayor pro tem, shared her experience with the progress made due to the suffrage movement and the progress still needed in the future.
"America has shown that no step forward for women's equality has been easy," Davy said. "From the women's right to own their own property, the women's right to receive higher education and the continued struggle for women's rights for equal pay, these and many others are the reason why the women's suffrage movement carries on today. Because of women's rights, equality now continues to replay itself."
Davy, a Kingston, Jamaica native, moved to the United States when she was 4 years old and made Fayetteville her home in 2005, becoming actively engaged in city and community affairs. She was elected as the District 2 representative to the Fayetteville City Council in 2009 and in 2013, she was unanimously elected as mayor pro tem of Fayetteville. She is the youngest and the first African American woman in this position.
"Today, we all honor and remember the hard work and the sacrifices that women have made, the sacrifices that their husbands have made, the sacrifices that brings us here to continue to celebrate women's equality," Davy said. "We all continue to look at the charge. What is a charge? Realizing that there's women around the world that still don't have the right to vote.
Davy challenged Soldiers and Airmen in attendance to continue advancing the women's rights movement.
"I know that whatever we do, we're writing a piece of history today," Davy said. "Do you now see the need for the fight to continue? The fight to continue not only for yourself but for your daughters, your sisters, your grandchildren. What does the future hold? We're going to continue to lead the work on voting. It's another attack in many opportunities throughout the states right now. We're going to continue the need to work on advancements in areas of business, medicine, politics, sports, education, management, entertainment and in the home. We must continue to educate, get engaged and get involved so we can be a part of the solution."
"This is an important day and I thank you all for this opportunity," Davy said. "This opportunity to shine light on the legacy, our history, our heroes, our she-roes, right here in our community--we have many of them. Don't let the movement stop here."