Women’s History Month: Remembering America’s Most Influential Women

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March is National Women’s History Month, and at Legacy, our standards of citizenship aims to teach and promote a love of our country and all those who played a role in its formation. This March, we encourage you to reflect with your child on the importance of women, and their significant contributions to our nation’s history.

Jacqueline Cochran, a historic American pilot who learned to fly when she was 22, was the first woman to break the sound barrier. In 1939, Cochran was rejected when she first recommended that women be trained in flying America’s military aircraft. In 1942, during World War II, there was a shortage of male pilots, and Cochran trained women to fly military aircrafts.

Cochran, as the director of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots, taught more than 1,200 female pilots to fly transports. She broke aviation frontiers that no woman had done before. Her lifetime passion and drive to overcome obstacles are what allowed her to make history.

Born a slave on a plantation in Maryland, Harriet Tubman worked a number of manual labor jobs. At a young age, she would haul logs and drive oxen. It was in 1839 when Tubman escaped from the south to the northern states where slavery was outlawed by hiding in a series of safe houses on her journey. These safe houses were used as stations in the Underground Railroad. Tubman wanted to help others escape to freedom, so she joined as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. In her time, she led more than 300 slaves to freedom during 19 trips from the south. Her bravery and determination are honored to this day.

It was in 1955 during a time of segregation in our country when Rosa Parks made history. At a time when African-Americans were told to stand and give up their bus seats, Parks refused and was charged with breaking segregation laws. Parks’ arrest started a movement and thus began the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Bus boycotters would walk and carpool for 381 days until the U.S Supreme Court ruled the segregation laws unconstitutional. Parks’ actions displayed courage and made a statement that would be remembered for decades to come.

Like these great women, at Legacy, we believe in self-discipline, a belief in oneself, and demonstrating a hard work ethic in all endeavors. These women played a vital role in our American history, and we want to push the next generation of students to learn about our nation’s rich diversity and history.

Take time this month to reflect on some of our country’s most historic women with your child.

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