2004 Observance of Women's History Month

1. "WOMEN-INSPIRING HOPE AND POSSIBILITY" IS THE
THEME FOR NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, MARCH 2004. THIS MONTH
IS AN IDEAL TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WOMEN HAVE MADE AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR FEMALE MARINES, FEMALE CIVILIAN MARINES, AND
FEMALE FAMILY MEMBERS. EACH PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE
SUCCESS OF OUR CORPS.
2. NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH BEGAN IN 1978 WHEN THE EDUCATION
TASK FORCE OF THE SONOMA COUNTY CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS
OF WOMEN INITIATED A WOMEN'S HISTORY WEEK. IN 1987, CONGRESS
EXPANDED THE CELEBRATION TO THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH TO REFLECT ON
THE CHALLENGES, CHANGE, AND RESEARCH THAT AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE
CHAMPIONED. SINCE THAT TIME, ANNUAL OBSERVANCES HAVE FOCUSED ON THE
SACRIFICES AND SUCCESS STORIES OF WOMEN WHILE VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS HAVE TAUGHT US OF THE HORIZONS WOMEN HAVE YET TO BREACH.
3. FROM THE ENLISTMENT OF OPHA MAE JOHNSON IN 1918 UNTIL TODAY,
WOMEN HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE AS MARINES. WOMEN HOLD EVERY RANK
IN OUR CORPS FROM PRIVATE TO MAJOR GENERAL AND THEY ARE TRAINED IN
93 PERCENT OF ALL MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES. THEY SERVE AS
RECRUITERS, DRILL INSTRUCTORS, PLATOON COMMANDERS AND COMMANDING
OFFICERS AND ACCOUNT FOR OVER 6 PERCENT OF OUR CORPS' STRENGTH.
4. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS VITAL MEMBERS OF THE
MARINE TEAM. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS
AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS BOTH ON BASE AND IN
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OR DEVELOP LOCALTHEMES FOR USE AT THEIR
COMMANDS.