Heritage of Green Hills re-enacts suffragists’ marches

The residents at the Heritage of Green Hills, a healthy life plan community in Cumru Township, Berks County, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment with a parade — complete with iconic “Votes For Women” sashes, ribbons and extravagant hats — in honor of the suffragists’ historicmarches.

In addition to the parade, there were readings of historic suffragist songs by various community members and a brief speech providing historical context by resident Ruth Shaffer, a researcher and frequent contributor to the Berks County Historical Review.

Shafferwrote of a series of articles about the suffragist movement in Berks County that have been published this year.

“FoundingMother Boards” featuringpictures andbios of diverse heroines of the women’s rights and suffrage movements decorated the halls.

A suffrage-themed quiz and crossword was available to test residents’ knowledge. Yellow roseswere given to every women in the community.

Mail-in ballot applications were on hand for all community members.

“Voting is so important,” said Shaffer, who will be giving a presentation about women’s suffrage at the community this month. “When you consider how long it took to get the vote — the movement started officially in 1848 with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and it took three generations of women taking up the struggle tomake it happen— how can you not vote?”

COURTESY OF THE HERITAGE OF GREEN HILLS Residents of the Heritage of Green Hills march during a parade commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment 100years ago, which gave women the right to vote.

Heritage of Green Hills resident Deborah McCone takes part in a celebration of the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.

Tanya Russ wears a shirt with the image of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ruth Shaffer, a resident of the Heritage of Green Hills, gives a reading.