A record number of women were among the ranks of plebes being inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday, the Annapolis Capital reported on Friday.
The historic Class of 2020 comes 40 years after the service academy in Maryland’s capital city was opened to women.
“In July 1976, the class of 1980 had 55 female plebes, who were the first group of women to be enrolled at the academy,” the Capital explained on Friday. “The 2020 class includes 331 women, 19 of which are daughters of academy alumni.”
Recognizing the historic nature of the occasion at an oath of office ceremony held Thursday evening, Vice Adm. Walter E. “Ted” Carter Jr., the Naval Academy’s superintendent, “recognized three women from the class of 1980” who “inspired future generations of women to come to Annapolis and serve their country,” according to the Capital.
“Alumna Peggy Feldmann, one of the 1980 graduates that was recognized at the ceremony, said the academy has come a long way since her Induction Day in 1976,” the Capital said. “Feldmann’s daughter is a 3rd-class midshipman, and through her experiences, the alumna said she has seen changes” in how welcoming the environment is for female midshipmen in the Academy and female officers in the naval service.
“It’s OK to be a girl,” Ms. Feldmann said. “It’s OK to have girlfriends. It’s OK to be girlie.”
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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