The United Nations celebrates International Women's Day each March 8.

State Sen. Donna Nesselbush and State Rep. Deborah Ruggiero co-hosted a special ceremony on March 5 at the Statehouse to recognize this date locally.

Women currently serving in all branches of the Armed Services in the Ocean State were honored at the event and Capt. Maureen Pennington, commanding officer, Naval Health Clinic New England, Newport, served as the keynote speaker.

Gov. Gina Raimondo, the first female governor in Rhode Island's history, was also there to recognize the day and to welcome the attendees that included senior military leaders throughout the state, many senators and representatives and guests from the community.

"Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, duty and courage. Thank you for your trailblazing," Raimondo said.

"My 10 year old daughter will grow up in a world very different from mine and that's because of women like you - women who had the courage to step up and take risks," she said in her welcome remarks to the honorees.

Following the governor's comments, State Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, the first female Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; first female majority leader and first female senate president reminded the audience that, to some extent, women's success is dependent on the respect of men.

"Valor knows no gender," she quoted President Barack Obama's remarks at a recent event held in Washington.

Today's military is changing as is evidenced by women serving onboard submarines; women attending Ranger training for the U.S. Army; and women in more combat roles throughout all of the branches.

"Each of today's honorees played an important role in this transformation," Weed said. "You are a symbol for every woman who follows you that our nation knows no boundaries for success."

Pennington, speaking on behalf of all of the military women present, began her career in Newport, R.I. twenty-eight years ago and will end it in Newport in two years.

"Throughout my time in the military I have truly learned that a plan is only something for me to deviate from," she said referring to the flexibility required and the opportunities provided from a military career.

Pennington told the audience several personal stories from her time in service, the challenges she faced, and noted how the service has evolved over the years.

"I was told once that your family doesn't come in your sea bag," she said. "That is no longer a term used."

"The military embraces family and they have come a long way in doing so," she said. Pennington's own daughter will be commissioned into the U.S. Navy on May 9.

"My daughter is coming in with her eyes wide open knowing that she can change the world," she said to applause.

In closing her remarks she reminded the audience about the importance of support to the military.

"It has meant so much to me, after coming back from a deployment, to have people thank me for my service - it makes us in the military feel supported by the American people, Thank You," she said.

The ceremony at the Statehouse was all about recognizing the accomplishments of women throughout the world.

Many of the women at the event were female trailblazers.

Army Sgt. Maj. Deborah Storm is the senior enlisted leader for personnel operations at the R.I. National Guard. She is the first female Active/Guard Reserve soldier in the R.I. National Guard to attain the rank of Sergeant Major.

Chief Master Sgt. Lorraine Casucci, R.I. Air National Guard, was also the first female to attain the senior enlisted rank of Chief Master Sgt. in Rhode Island.

Each of the women selected to represent their service was a role model for their peers and included a commissioned female and enlisted female.

Representing the Army were Storm and Col. Arlene Mello, Director of Logistics, R.I. National Guard.

The U.S. Marine Corps representatives came from Naval Station Newport's Marine Corps Detachment. They were Maj. Kimberly Rhodes, commanding officer; and Gunnery Sgt. Crystal Smith who is currently serving as an Aviation Supply Corps instructor with the detachment.

Pennington was joined by Naval Station Newport's Command Master Chief Shannon Howe.

As with most of the women representing their services, their experiences were vastly different from the majority of those in the audience and when it was read in her introduction that Master Chief Howe had graduated from the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) School in Maine, a slight gasp was heard throughout the room.

The U.S. Air Force representatives were Col. Kimberly Baumann, currently the Air National Guard Bureau Cyber Policy, Plans and Resources Division Chief at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland but normally assigned to the R.I. Air National Guard and a Rhode Island resident who began her career with a unit in Coventry, R.I.

Casucci was with Col. Baumann representing the enlisted females in the Air Force.

Representing the U.S. Coast Guard were the two most junior members of the group from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in East Providence, R.I.

Lt. Kellie Dougherty began her career as an enlisted person and is currently the Investigation Division Chief for Sector Southeast New England.

Petty Officer 1st Class Joanna Moran, currently a member of the Facility Inspection Division was representing females in the U.S. Coast Guard. Moran is married to a fellow Coast Guard Marine Science Technician.

"All of these women are exceptional in their own right for having chosen a career historically unconventional even by today's standards," said Nesselbush as she finished her introductions.

Following the ceremony inside the Stateroom, the women were escorted into the R.I. House of Representatives where they were introduced to the entire House in session and a proclamation was read into the record recognizing these women as military females specifically honored for their service to the Department of Defense during International Women's Day ceremonies in R.I.

The women had the same honor bestowed on them inside the R.I. Senate chambers immediately following the House experience.

For the last three years Nesselbush and Ruggiero have held this ceremony honoring successful women. Some of the past honorees have been female leaders in the police departments and town and city governments throughout the state.

This was the first time military women were selected for recognition and the event was extremely well received by all in attendance.

The Defense Industry in Rhode Island generates an annual $3.2 billion economic impact and is the third largest economic sector in the state.


For more news from Naval Station Newport, visit www.navy.mil/.