Women’s Bureau Director, Shinae Chun, gave this speech at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Women’s History Month Opening Ceremony. It is titled “Women Sustaining the American Spirit.”
Thank you for that very kind introduction. And thanks to all of you for being here. It is my pleasure to join you this morning, to honor the incredible women whose courage and dedication have sustained the American spirit throughout our history and through these difficult past six months. Pioneers and heroines who have broken down barriers, created new opportunities, championed justice, and risked their lives for the greater good.
Some are household names… Like Betsy Ross, who created our nation’s most cherished symbol—the American flag. And Harriett Tubman, who guided more than 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Others are unknown outside of their families and communities. However, all are part of our history.
They were joined this past September by a new group of heroines, whose bravery and sacrifice should fill us with pride. Women such as New York Police Officer, Moira Smith, who perished at the World Trade Center as she directed others to safety. Navy Officer, Melissa Rose Barnes, who was preparing for her first assignment at sea when she died at her post at the Pentagon. And too many others to list here today. All deserve our recognition—and our heart felt appreciation.
March has been designated Women’s History Month for just that purpose. It is an opportunity to acknowledge groundbreakers of the past, thank the heroines of today, and inspire the leaders of the future. And it is a reminder that, if we believe in ourselves, we can make a real difference.
My childhood experience taught me that gender equity starts at home. As I was growing up in Korea, beef soup was a very popular and special dish that every family enjoyed. More often than not, I noticed that I did not have beef in my portion of the soup. Mine was full of vegetables with no beef. Beef was all in my father’s and brothers’ soup. I did not have any hard feelings toward my father or brothers. In fact, I enjoyed my beef soup without the beef, but I have been very conscious about the missing beef and have been asking “Where is the Beef” ever since. The Women’s Bureau is driven by this message.
Being the first Asian American Director of the Women’s Bureau is a very high honor. Only in America could an immigrant like myself be given such an incredible opportunity. For that, I thank President Bush and Secretary Chao, and two other women whose determination made my path possible.
The first is my mother. My mother’s only wish in life was for her girls to get a college degree instead of a dowry. I joined my two sisters and attended Ewha Woman’s University. When my mother passed away, the only precious jewelry left was this ring. This ring reminds me every day of my mother’s belief that education would open doors for her girls that otherwise would not be available. And I am forever thankful for her forward thinking.
The second is Mary F. Scranton, a 19th century Methodist missionary, who made my mother’s dream possible. Mrs. Scranton made the choice to leave her comfortable home in the U.S. She traveled across the world to establish the first institution of formal education for women in Korea in 1886. She started with one student; Ewha currently has 18,000 students, and is one of the largest universities for women in the world. I wish I could tell her how many thousands of lives she changed—including my own. Without her vision and sacrifice, I would not be standing before you today.
I am proud to serve a President who understands just how much women can accomplish and has had no hesitation in appointing them to the top posts in his administration.
