By LAURIE VOSS
Circulation Supervisor, Warsaw Community Public Library

If you think back on some strong women, you probably have several in your own family that come to mind.

My first would be my paternal grandmother. She married in 1915, and in early 1923 my grandfather was killed, leaving her a widow with three children in a dirt poor area of Eastern Kentucky. She struggled, yet brought these young children to adulthood.

Likewise, I would name my sister, widowed with a 3- and 5-year-old at a very young age. The boys she raised are a compliment to her, and the memory of her husband.

To commemorate strong women in society, Senator Orin Hatch and Senator Barbara Mikulski sponsored a Congressional resolution proclaiming Women’s History Week in 1981. In 1987, Congress expanded this special week to span the entire month of March.

A quote from Rosa Parks tells of the strength of character she had. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” With the not-so-simple act of refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, Rosa fueled what became the Civil Rights Movement in this country.

Anne Frank is another strong young woman that comes to mind. Born in 1929, by age 4 her parents needed to escape the Hitler regime. They moved to the Netherlands until the early 1940s when WWII breaks out. In 1942, the Jewish family begins hiding in a secret annex. At this time, young Anne begins writing short stories and a diary, which she hopes will be published after her release.

Unfortunately, the family was discovered and sent to concentration camps. Her father was the only survivor. In 1947, he obtained her diary and had it published.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank. Her quote shows the hope she had to be able to change the world around her; and in her death, she did just that.

The Warsaw Community Public Library is full of books about strong women, and books written by strong, influential women of today and yesterday. Stop in, read about and celebrate your favorite women in history.