WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — The 88th Air Base Wing will be celebrating Women’s History Month with a variety of events throughout March.
The 88 ABW Special Observance Committee will host events that include a women’s health seminar, book club, museum tours, and scavenger hunts. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Women Breaking Barriers, Building the Future,” in honor of the contributions and service of military and civilian women.
Organizers say it will bring awareness to past and present trailblazing women and show the value that diversity brings to U.S. forces.
“I hope our observance events provide people with insight and enhanced understanding of the challenges women have overcome,” said Staff Sgt. Vivian Thompson, a committee member. “I hope they are inspired to act and contribute to building a brighter future.”
Women’s History Month observance events
The Women’s Health Panel and book club are open to all community members with base access.
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March 8 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Women’s Health Panel with speakers from 88th Medical Group. The panel will be held in the Wright-Patterson Medical Center Auditorium (basement level).
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March 29 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. – Book club discussion in the USO Auditorium. The book club will be reading “Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII’s Most Highly Decorated Spy,” by Larry Loftis. The discussion will focus on this year’s celebration theme by highlighting the accomplishments of Odette Sansom. Sansom was an undercover agent in the secret British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive. For more about the book, click here.
“I’m looking forward to going out to the Air Force Museum. I haven’t seen the Women in the Air Force Exhibit yet,” Thompson said. “Also, it will be great to hear other people’s thoughts and takeaways from our book club discussion.”
The committee is teaming up with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and offering three ways to see exhibits featuring women in the Air Force:
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March 6, 15, 22, and 27 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Base employees can register for a two-hour guided tour. Registration is required. To sign up for the Guided Women in the Air Force tours, send an email with the subject line “Registration for March WAF tours” to [email protected].
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Every Saturday in March (March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30), two-hour guided tours will be available to the public. Tours run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. No registration is required.
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The museum will also offer a monthlong scavenger hunt free and open to the public. This is designed to be an immersive, educational experience for people of all ages to learn about women’s history. View the Women in the Air Force Exhibit Map and scavenger hunt sheets below:
Scavenger Hunt Bldgs. 1 and 2:
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BbLi8zntTDo%3d&portalid=7
Scavenger Hunt Bldgs. 3 and 4:
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=JSUiAJo496o%3d&portalid=7
These events aim to recognize the countless contributions women in the military and civil service have made toward creating a positive opportunity for a brighter future, organizers said.
As a Women’s History Month committee member, Thompson was able to talk with different employees across the base.
“It was neat to be able to engage with offices I don’t normally get to talk with, like Equal Opportunity and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team,” she said.
For questions related to the Women’s History Month Committee, contact Staff Sgt. Vivian Thompson at [email protected] or Senior Airman Christley Mae Miranda at [email protected].