To continue the fight, we must recognize the fighters. Clara Barton is the funder of the American Red Cross, her work inspired to continue helping people in need.
It was the first name I heard about Clara Barton until in our office invited us to join a trip to Maryland with the Vice-president of the International Services at American Red Cross. It was an excellent opportunity to engage with my colleagues and to know more about the origin of the institution here in the United States.
When we arrived at Antietam National Battlefield, my perception of the United States changed. Only one hour-half far from the office, I discover one of the places that told me another story about America. Antietam was a battlefield where thousands of people died in one day. It was not a traditional tourist place for people who come from different countries. Students from the Army come to visit the site and analyze the strategies; students go to learn about history, etc.
I was not interested at all hearing about the war. I don’t and won’t support wars ever in my life. I didn’t know what I was doing there until my boss, and all my colleagues went to Clara’s Barton memorial. One more time, the men scrubbed the world and women appeared to solve it. Clara was considered the Angel of the Battlefield because she provided bandages, lanterns, and food to the wounded no matter the army they were serving. Her neutrality and her willingness to help people were the funded values to create the American Red Cross.
During the XIX century, we didn’t have the women empowerment claim. We didn’t recognize the amazing work that women did for the society. That is why I wanted to dedicate this post to an unknown heroine in our history, not only for the United States but the whole world.
Clara Barton, born in December 25, 1821 in Massachussets.
