FORT LEE, Va. – Media are invited to attend a celebration of Women’s Equality here at the Lee Theater, August 29.

The event marks the 97th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment Women’s Right to Vote and will feature guest speaker, Virginia State Senator Rosalyn Dance. The event is free and open to the public.

WHAT: Women’s Equality Day Observance

WHO: Fort Lee personnel and the general public

WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29

WHERE: Lee Theater

Dance represents the 16th Senatorial District that includes the Fort Lee area. A native of Chesterfield County, Dance served as Petersburg mayor from 1992-2004. In 2005, she was elected as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly and served until 2015 when she became a state senator. She is the first African-American female senator elected from Petersburg.

Dance holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Virginia State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. During her professional career, she worked at the Southside Virginia Training Center for 34 years before retiring as the assistant director of residential services.

The observance not only celebrates the progress and achievements women have made throughout history, but also their continued effort to be represented as equals in society.

The program will include music from the 392nd Army Band and entertainment from Soldiers and civilians across the 23rd QM Bde. as well as from others on post. The entertainment will include skits reenacting significant events that occurred in history that contributed to the passage of the 19th amendment as well as how women continue to strive for equality during the modern era.

In addition, there will be food sampling with tasting items significant to women who contributed to the war efforts during World War I. Posters representing women in the military from the Women’s Museum also be displayed in the theater for community members to view.

“The observance of Women’s Equality Day commemorates women achieving full voting rights through the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920,” said Capt. Courtney Reynolds, commander, Uniform Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, and one of the coordinators for the event. “It also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality and the strides women have made in every facet of American life,”

Media planning to attend must contact Sarah Gauvin at 804-734-6965, 804-400-7273 or sarah.r.gauvin.civ@mail.mil by 10 a.m., Tuesday to coordinate an escort to the event.

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