At the 2019 Virginia International Tattoo held April 25-28 at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, the centerpiece of the celebration was a Salute to Women in the Military.
Charlene Brassington, a master lecturer in the School of Community and Environmental Health, a 30-year retired Navy captain, was featured as the first woman at sea assigned permanent duty to a Navy ship in 1978. Brassington brings to 98ÌÃ the unique perspective of military service and is able to identify with our many military students and veterans.
Just 100 years ago, women were allowed to serve in uniform for the first time. More than 30,000 volunteered during World War I. Today, one sixth of all active-duty service members are women and these 230,000-plus women serve in every branch in virtually every capacity. Generation after generation of women have shown not only the courage to protect the nation in times of war, but the commitment to change the nation for the better from within.