International Women’s Day: Honoring Progress, Power, and Possibility

Every year on March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day – a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is both a celebration and a call to action, reminding us how far women have come while highlighting the work still needed to achieve gender equality.

In 2026, International Women’s Day marks an extraordinary milestone: 115 years of collective action and advocacy for women’s rights. For more than a century, women across the world have challenged barriers, pushed boundaries, and expanded opportunities for future generations.

Women Who Served: Breaking Barriers in the Military

Women have also played a transformative role in the United States military, often overcoming significant barriers to serve their country.

One of the earliest examples dates back to the American Revolutionary War, when Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Continental Army around 1781. Because women were not allowed to serve at the time, she adopted the name Robert Shurtliff and fought alongside male soldiers.

More than a century later, women began entering the armed forces officially.

• In 1917, Loretta Walsh became the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy, serving as a chief yeoman.
• In 1918, Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps.

World War II: A Turning Point

World War II marked a major shift for women in military service. The massive demand for personnel led to the creation of dedicated women’s units across every branch of the armed forces.

These included:

• Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later the Women’s Army Corps (WAC)
• Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
• Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) in the Navy
• The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
• The Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, known as SPARS

In total, nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform during World War II, filling critical roles that supported the war effort.

Expanding Opportunities

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, allowing women to serve as permanent members of the U.S. Armed Forces. While the act placed limits on the number of women who could serve and restricted certain roles, it represented a major step toward full integration.

Over the following decades, women continued to expand their presence and influence in the military.

Women served in Korea and Vietnam, working as nurses, intelligence officers, air traffic controllers, engineers, and military police, while gradually earning opportunities for promotion into senior leadership roles.

In 1976, women were admitted to U.S. service academies for the first time – a historic milestone celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Breaking Modern Barriers

The late 20th and early 21st centuries brought a wave of historic firsts.

Women began serving as fighter pilots, commanding units, and achieving senior ranks previously reserved for men.

In 2008, Ann E. Dunwoody became the first woman in U.S. military history to achieve the rank of four-star general.

In 2013, the Department of Defense announced that the ban on women serving in combat roles would be lifted entirely. By 2015, women were eligible to serve in all military positions.

That same year, Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver became the first women to graduate from the U.S. Army Ranger School – one of the military’s most demanding leadership programs.

Women have continued to break barriers:

• Lori Robinson became the first woman to lead a Unified Combatant Command.
• Amy Bauernschmidt became the first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
• Amanda Lee became the first female pilot to fly with the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team.
• Nicole Malachowski became the first female pilot selected to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron.

Since September 11, 2001, more than 300,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and thousands have earned Combat Action Badges.

Today, women make up about 16% of the U.S. Armed Forces, serving in every branch and across nearly every role.

Looking Ahead

International Women’s Day reminds us that progress is built through courage, persistence, and collective action.

From the women who fought for the right to vote, to those who broke barriers in boardrooms, laboratories, classrooms, and battlefields, their contributions have reshaped our world.

As we celebrate 115 years of International Women’s Day, we honor the women who paved the way – and we look forward to the generations who will continue to lead, innovate, and inspire.

International Women’s Day & Women Who Served: Honoring Colorado’s Women Veterans

Each year on March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to recognizing the achievements, strength, and resilience of women across every field of life.

For organizations like Women Who Served: Colorado Veterans, this day holds special meaning.

It is an opportunity not only to celebrate women’s accomplishments, but also to recognize the extraordinary contributions of women who have worn our nation’s uniform.

A Legacy of Service

Women have been part of America’s military story since the nation’s earliest days. From the courageous service of Deborah Sampson during the American Revolutionary War to the hundreds of thousands of women who served in World War II, women have consistently stepped forward to defend their country.

Over time, barriers that once limited women’s roles in the military began to fall. Women gained access to leadership positions, flight training, service academies, and eventually combat roles.

Today, women serve in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and across nearly every military career field.

Their service represents courage, commitment, and sacrifice.

The Continued Need for Community

While women veterans have made historic contributions, many still face unique challenges. Too often, women veterans are overlooked or underrecognized despite their service.

That is where organizations like Women Who Served: Colorado Veterans step in.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to honor, connect, and empower Colorado’s women veterans.

Through meaningful connections, personal and professional development opportunities, and community engagement, we strive to ensure that every woman who served feels recognized, supported, and valued.

Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future

International Women’s Day reminds us that progress is built through the courage of those willing to lead the way.

At Women Who Served: Colorado Veterans, we believe that honoring those achievements also means building strong communities for the women who continue that legacy today.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, leadership, and resilience of women everywhere – and especially the incredible women who have served our nation.

Their stories matter. Their service matters. And their continued impact in our communities matters.