DAR celebrates women’s contribution to the military

March is Women’s History Month, and the Governor David Emanuel – Adam Brinson Chap-ter of the DAR celebrated it by recognizing the contribution of women to the military during the monthly meeting. Jane Durden introduced the guest speaker, retired SFC Laura Howard, Georgia Army National Guard, to present the program.

Sergeant Howard provided a very informative and interesting program about women who changed the course of the role of females in the military of the United States from the Revolu-tionary War to the present. Several women and their stories were highlighted throughout our country’s history, demonstrating how vital and often unacknowledged their roles have been. From nurses and cooks to combatants, women have gradually gained more official recogni-tion and opportunities over time.

Sergeant Howard served with the 122nd Rear Tactical Operation Center in Savannah and the 878th Combat Engineer Battalion in Augusta. She also served with the 1996 Olympics Dura-tion Battalion from April until August of that year. Sergeant Howard was part of the S-3 (operations) Section. The Duration Battalion was in charge of security for all the venues in Atlanta, 24 hours a day, 3 eight-hour shifts a day.

After retiring, Howard worked with the Georgia Army National Guard in their “Family Assis-tance” program, which helps families of deployed soldiers. She is a member of the Chatham Artillery, an artillery unit that has played a leading role in the history of Georgia since the American Revolution.

Laura Howard and her husband, Wayne, live in Sylvania and are active with the Brier Creek Revolutionary War Battlefield Association.

She provided a very informative and interesting talk about the various roles women have played to the military throughout history in the United States.