Thursday, November 10, 2011

Follow Friday






Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop put together by two hosts:  Parajunkee and Alison Can Read as a way to help bloggers become aware of other blogs and bloggers. It's a great way to make new blogger friends.

Q: In light of 11.11.11 and Veteran’s Day tell us about your favorite solider and how he or she is saving the world. Fictional or real life.

I thought I'd talk about 
the only female winner of the Medal of Honor: 
Mary Edwards Walker

     I've been doing a program this week about veteran's...and the people are so surprised that only one woman has won the Medal of Honor. It was over 100 years ago, but her story is pretty extraordinary.
     Mary received her medical degree before the Civil War. She worked as a doctor and when the Civil War began, she volunteered to serve as a medic. The military looked down on her...she was a woman, she couldn't possibly be a competent doctor. 
     They finally realized her abilities in the field and Mary was known for rushing into battle and helping suffering soldiers. She worked as an unpaid field surgeon near the Union front lines and was an intregal part of the medical teams in several battles including the Battle of Fredericksburg, Chattanooga and the Battle of Chickamauga.
     After the war, Mary was given a pension of  $8.50 (later raised to $20). She lived the rest of her life as a doctor and spent a lot of time administering to women's hospitals and orphan's homes.
     She was given the Medal of Honor for her services in the war. Walker was recommended for the Medal of Honor by Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and George Henry Thomas. On November 11, 1865, (146 years ago today!!) President Andrew Johnson signed a bill to present her the medal, specifically for her services at the First Battle of Bull Run. 
     So here's the kicker...They TOOK AWAY HER MEDAL! Yep, Congress passed a law in 1917 that stripped Mary of her Medal. The Army said it was because she was a civilian, but who knows the real reason. Mary refused to give the Medal of Honor back and wore it every day.
      An amazing woman, definitely a progressive before her time. She is one of the reasons America is great...paving the way for women in other fields and areas and saving lives while she's doing it. :)

44 comments:

  1. GREAT post! I actually used to live on a military base with my husband and our street name was Bull Run!

    Angie

    Angela's Anxious Life

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, thank you for sharing that story! That was a blessing and an inspiration to read about--I'm glad you were researching this topic. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this post SO MUCH! Happy Friday!

    http://readingtopenguins.blogspot.com/2011/11/following-friday-11.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Only one? And 100 years ago? Wow... also, librarians are awesome. Look at the kind of FF's you give us!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Man, I really wanted to be your #50 follower :/ Grrrrr. But anywho, what an interesting story. Mary sounds great, and this just proves how much Congress sucks for trying to take her medal away! I'm proud of her for refusing to give it back and wearing it. That was her medal, and it sounds like she earned it. I love learning new things, so thanks for this!
    Ninja Girl

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is so interesting. I have never heard of Walker, although I have read several books about Elizabeth Blackwell. Thanks for visiting my site!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very, very, cool story. I loved it!
    New follower (lucky 51..lol)your blog is great :)
    Follow Friday@BOOKS & BEYOND

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great feature! I just heard about Mary on the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast. It was fascinating.
    My Hop

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi *waves* new follower =) Wow, this is a great post I love it! Here is mine if you'd like to check it out!
    -Shellie
    My FF

    ReplyDelete
  10. Already a follower. Happy FF. My FF: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/11/follow-friday-2.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi there,

    Well there you go. I didn't know that!

    great post

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey, WOW she sounds like a facinating woman and I cant believe they took away her medal! DOUCHE BAGS!

    - Kylie @ The Talking Teacup

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an amazing woman!

    Thanks for stopping by mine. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey, love your answer, I didn't know that. And I gotta say the trying to take it away really doesn't surprise me. Then ppl wonder why we have feminists now lol. Happy FF ;)
    Tristan @ reads With wreckless Abandon

    ReplyDelete
  15. awesome post! i learned something new today! Thank you!


    Trish - Friday Memes

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow!!! I had no idea! I want to read the book and watch the movie:) Thanks so much for this post! Oh and thanks for stopping by my FF:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cute profile pic!. Thanks for stopping by this week. I'm just returning the FF love.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, that's a brilliant story. I cannot believe there was only one woman and that they then had the audavity to strip her of her medal!!! Men...!
    Hop on over if you have the time:
    http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2011/11/another-friday.html
    Juli @ Universe in Words

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great Story, Good for her wearing it everyday, if she was given a medal in recognition, no one should ever try to take it from her!

    Following back, Emma @ LostinaYAbook

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, what an amazing story. I never learned about Mary so I'm so glad for the insight! Its a shame they stripped her of her medal. Civilian or not, she did extraordinary things for our country during a time when women were given very limited opportunities. Here's to Mary!

    New follower
    My FF
    Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves

    ReplyDelete
  21. Good for her! For just keeping it as well, could you imagine the press if someone actually had to yank it off her. ;)

    Thanks for dropping by my blog! :)

    Come see my Friday! And have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great story! All the Medal of Honor winners are pretty incredible, but I'm shocked they tried to take hers away!

    Kate @ Epic (Chocolate) Fantasy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow, that's so cool! I have to check her out! I'm one of your new followers! By the way, your blog looks so awesome!

    Eileen @ eileenlisblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. That's an amazing story. Thanks for sharing this.

    Happy Friday! My FF post

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow, thank you! I had never heard of her and more people definitely should. After everything she did, UNpaid and saving lives in the heat of battle...I can't believe they took her medal back but I'm glad she didn't give it back. What a woman.

    Happy Veteran's Day!

    Amber
    The Musings of ALMYBNENR

    ReplyDelete
  26. A truly great story about a great woman.

    ReplyDelete
  27. That was an amazing story! It is very sad that only one woman was giving the Medal of Honor only to have it taken away by the country she served. Thank you so much for sharing her story!

    Happy FF! New follower ^_^

    sinn @ sinnful books

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a great story!

    Thank you for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow what a fantastic story. People like Mary have allowed us to be as fortunate as we are today.

    Great post, new follower:D

    My Post

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great post and this is such an amazing story!!
    Happy Veterans day!

    new follower :)
    check out my follow Friday!
    http://sarahcatchingbooks.blogspot.com/2011/11/follow-friday-5.html

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great answer! Her story is very inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great answer!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I didn't know about that! Thanks for sharing. Great answer!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Some people have friends and/or family who served or who is serving in the military. Other people aren’t really keen on the long-standing war and really have no answer at all.

    As for me? I don’t know anyone who is serving or who has served so I decided to go with what I want and chose a fictional soldier as an answer. The thing is, I had four prime candidates! I did eventually end up with one with a lengthy explanation. Care to know who it is? Follow me back to http://www.howardsherman.net and find out!

    In celebration of today’s cool date of 11/11/11 I’m offering a special $11 discount off all my interactive fiction books! Sure I’m a book blogger but I’m also an author. All the details of the $11 off on 11/11/11 is at the bottom of my Follow Friday blog post.

    Since I’m posting this kind of late just add 'FF’ to the coupon code and it’ll be valid all weekend long!

    Thank God it’s Follow Friday!

    Howard Sherman, Implementor
    http://www.howardsherman.net

    ReplyDelete
  35. What an awesome pick for your answer to the question! I'm a fellow Missourian and weenie dog owner, and I'm a wannabe librarian, but still a school teacher. And, I'm now a new follower of your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  36. That is a great post, I had not idea that only one female has been awarded with the Medal of Honor. Thanks for stopping by my FF

    Old Follower

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for visiting and this was great post. I had little chills running up my arms whenever I read historical figures. Amazing woman. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. hey! I'm a follower here, happy veteran's day!

    I just got a SHINY new blog makeover!! Come by and let me know what you think!! :)

    http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  39. Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for visiting my blog :) I'm a new follower by the way :D

    I really liked your pick for this weeks question, it was a great story and I hadn't ever heard about it before now so I learned something :)

    Hope you have a great weekend!

    <3
    Taylor

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow what an amazing story. I vaguely remember hearing about her in one of my history classes--but the teacher did little more than say her name and that she was a woman doctor. I will have to find out more about her!

    Shanan
    http://thebookaddictnet.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  41. Happy follow Friday!!! My blog is hosting two giveaways currently (the one that just started today is for your choice of a Wendy Delsol book! Stork, Frost or The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls!) I would love it if you would stop by and enter! Thank you and TGIF/Happy Veteran's Day!!!

    Sincerely,
    Emma
    The Writers Voice:
    http://OurBooksOurVoice.Blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete