A leap for history Ohio native participated in historic skydive to mark 100 years since women’s right to vote By Kevin Hieronymus
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HISTORIC DIVE This past summer, on Aug. 18, Albrecht took part in a historic dive with the Highlight Pro SkyDivers in Nashville, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed and protected women’s constitutional right to vote. Tennessee was the last state to ratify the amendment, making it national law on Aug. 18, 1920. Albrecht was the last of eight divers that dove over the Parthenon and landed in Centennial Park shortly before the dedication of the Tennessee Womens’ Suffrage Monument, and got to “end the show.” Her gold and white parachute had “VOTE” written across in large letters. She proudly displayed a large purple flag with the inscription, “Shall not be denied,” the language of the first sentence of the 19th Amendment. The 15-foot by 25-foot flags are heavy and can pose some challenges for someone like Albrecht’s stature. But like her hometown Ohio Bulldogs are well known WHY SKYDIVE for, the 5-foot-tall Albrecht is small, but mighty. Certainly skydiving comes with a thrill and an “They’re a little bit heavy, so my small stature adrenaline rush streaking across the sky. But that’s makes it a little bit awkward for me to move around. not why Albrecht does it. But you know where I grew up. I’m used to hard “I just like to have fun. I have an active inner work,” she said. child,” she said. “I’m not really in it for the thrill. I’m Other divers carried similar banners with messages in it for the fun.” proclaiming, “Votes for Women,” and “Equality Can’t Every jump is different, she said, and that’s one of Wait,” just like the women before them carried on their the things she likes about it most. protest flags 100 years ago outside of the White House. “It’s new and different every time,” Albrecht said. The colors of their team jerseys pay homage to the Does she have any fear? official colors of the suffrage movement: Purple for “Not really,” she said. “For me, I like to have wellloyalty, white for purity and gold for hope. planned fun, and I really don’t like to be scared. As “It was overwhelming to be a part of. It was an imfar as I’m concerned, I really like some of the strucportant milestone,” Albrecht said. “I feel really proud, ture of the sport itself. I don’t think you make good really lucky to get to be involved in that sort of celebradecisions if you’re afraid. So try to plan to not do tion and being with an organization that can promote things that are scary.” and lift up some voices of people that maybe otherwise don’t have a platform to let their voice be heard. TURNING PRO “I was really happy to use my hobby for good inAbout a year ago, Albrecht applied for the Highstead of just fun.” light Pro Skydiving Team, an elite all-female demonTypically, the Highlight Skydivers hosts major stration jump team based out of Arizona with women in-person events for their jumps, but due to the corofrom all over the country. navirus pandemic, they offered a livestream of the They come with all the bells and whistles, flying jump so everyone — especially young girls — could smoke, streamers and large flags, bringing high energy watch at home. and excitement to your events, attracting expanded The view of Nashville was breathtaking, like none media attention to their shared missions. other a tourist would ever see from the ground. “I’ve been jumping for about 13 years. Maybe seven “It’s beautiful. It looks a lot different walking downyears ago, I started demonstrating jumps, so they town than flying downtown,” Albrecht said. “I’ve were looking for women that were doing a broad never been to Nashville before. It was wonderful range of things and demonstration jumps were one of introduction to the city. It’s a city I’d love to go back them,” Albrecht said. and spend some time there.”
hen Hanna Albrecht left her tiny hometown of Ohio, Ill. 14 years ago to attend the University of Illinois, she, like any other college student, was ready to try some new adventures. She heard about a sky diving club and was ready to give it a try. “It just kind of a whim. Just seemed liked something to do,” she said. “I got out of college and just continued jumping.” Albrecht, 32, has been diving for 13 years with 2,000 dives to her credit. She is a member of Sky Knights Sports Parachute Club with Skydive Milwaukee, based out of East Troy, Wis., making the trip north most weekends when it’s nice weather. “It’s just far enough to get away for the Hanna Albrecht weekend,” said Albrecht, who is also a private pilot.
4 – Fall 2020
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Living magazine
9/8/20 9:24 AM
