Winners of the Women Change Misawa Recognition Award are flanked by Maj. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon, the Air Force's top-ranking nurse, and Col. Don Weckhorst, vice commander of 35th Fighter Wing. The awardees, recognized at a Women's History Month luncheon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Wednesday, are, from left, Sharon Stone, Maj. Samia Ocha, Rochelle Phelps, Lisa Wangelin, Staff Sgt. Gloria Banks and Kyoko Hasegawa. (Jennifer H. Svan / S&S)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Women who’ve made a difference in the Misawa community were mentioned alongside those who have left indelible marks on history at a Women’s History Month luncheon here Wednesday.
Guest speaker Maj. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon, the Air Force’s top-ranking nurse and assistant surgeon general for medical force development and nursing services, talked about her four female heroes: Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Fannie Lou Hamer and Sima Samar.
The first three were staunch advocates of women’s rights long before the term “feminism” was coined, and Samar continues to fight for the rights of women in post-Taliban Afghanistan.
In challenging the audience to read more about these remarkable women, Brannon said: “Never underestimate the power of one woman” and of individual voices.
“Each of us has the responsibility to make the world a better place,” Brannon said. “There’s still so much work to be done in our communities, in our nation and in our world.”
Misawa’s Women’s History Month Committee also used the luncheon to recognize winners in an awards program that it hopes to make an annual event, said Maj. Jody Ocker, Women’s History Month project officer.
Twenty women on base were nominated in six categories for the Women Change Misawa Recognition Program.
“It was very difficult to choose,” Ocker said. “We had a first-grader nominate their teacher, children nominating their parents, spouses nominating their wives, and co-workers nominate women who have inspired excellence in their work.”
The awardees and their respective categories were:
Japanese National: Kyoko Hasegawa, 35th Fighter Wing public affairs off-base community liaison.Civilian Category A: Rochelle Phelps, Family Advocacy outreach manager.Civilian Category B: Sharon Stone, Misawa American Red Cross and 35th Medical Group volunteer.Enlisted: Staff Sgt. Gloria Banks, community volunteer.Officer: Maj. Samia Ochia, emergency room family practice physician.Youth-Nominated: Lisa Wangelin, nominated by 9-year-old daughter, Emma.Nominees received a certificate signed by 35th Fighter Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Bill Rew. The winners also received a $25 Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift certificate and a flower arrangement.
