MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The International Women's Day, recognized globally as a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements of women, will be observed March 8 at a special ceremony from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Club Iwakuni Ballroom.
According to the IWD Web site, the first IWD was held March 19, 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and a few other European countries. German women selected this date because in 1848 the Prussian king had promised the vote for women on that day.
Now, IWD is always celebrated on March 8 and is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. Women from every country come together to celebrate this important date that represents equality, justice and development.
"As a woman from the United States, I feel blessed because I am allowed to have personal freedom and choices," said Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Lukehart, Branch Medical Clinic women's health coordinator. "I look at women from other various countries and realize that many of them have to face everyday realities that I could never even begin to imagine."
The role of women in the military has been on the forefront of the women's equality movement in the past century.
"I am very proud of the fact that women can serve in just about every role the military has to offer," said Lukehart. "I am particularly proud of a certain group of Army and Navy nurses who called themselves the Band of Angels during World War II."
According to Lukehart, these nurses provided a moving example of the courage and determination of female service members.
They chose to stay behind in the Philippines to take care of their wounded soldiers, knowing full well that they would either be captured and held as prisoners of war or killed.
"They saved many lives and went through hell but never failed to lose their focus on the mission at hand," said Lukehart. "They were eventually captured and held as POW's for more than a year. They say that it was a miracle that none of them died as many were starving to death and falling ill to various diseases themselves."
Lukehart said that throughout it all, the Band of Angels never lost hope. All the military nurses that stayed behind lived to tell their miraculous story.
The stories of heroic women like these will be celebrated in the upcoming seminar.
"The seminar will include a women's forum, a guest speaker, a parade of countries, and many other cultural activities," said Col. Dave Darrah, Station commanding officer. "We will also cover the diverse and interlocking stories of women who have pushed against the political restrictions surrounding them."