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6th Grader Wins Women's History Month Essay Contest
Monday, March 18, 2002
By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service

Valerie Moore, 11, beams as David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, presents her a DoD certificate and a $100 Savings Bond as winner of the DoD Women's History Month essay contest held at John Tyler Elementary School in Washington.
Image Credit: Rudi Williams -- AFIS.
"American women are holding jobs at one time only held by men, such as chief of police, military commanders, Army generals, engineers, presidents of major universities, and businesses, and heads of hospitals.”

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Valerie Moore is tenacious. Once she sets her sights on a goal, she says she'll keep trying until she succeeds.

That tenacity and stick-to-itiveness helped her win first place in this year's Pentagon-sponsored Women's History Month essay contest at John Tyler Elementary School in Washington. She'd won second and third places in other DoD- sponsored contests this year.

"So I decided if I tried it again, I'd win first place," the 11-year-old said. And she did. "I finally got first place -- it feels great!" She read her essay during the March 14 DoD Women's History Month observance at the Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery Women's Memorial. She received a Department of Defense certificate and a $100 Savings Bond.

Moore used this year's national theme, "Women Sustaining the American Spirit," as her essay title:

Sixth-grader Valerie Moore, 11, poses with retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, president of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. The youngster won the DoD Women's History Month essay contest held at her school, John Tyler Elementary in Washington. Behind the two is the Sept. 11 Photo Project on display at the Women's Memorial through April 7.
Image Credit: Rudi Williams -- AFIS.

"Since the beginning of history the American woman has always shown strength, courage, and dignity in her efforts to help make America what it is today.

"Women have come from not being able to vote to becoming mayors, governors, senators and Supreme Court justices. Thanks to women like Susan B. Anthony and Dorothy Height who is almost 90 years old and still heading up the National Council of Negro Women.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Sorry about having Sen. Clinton mentioned in the article, but I don’t think Valerie was aware I’d be posting this here.
;^)

Dan