Military History Talk — “Dr. Mary Walker: Hero, Surgeon, Trailblazer”

The Historic Trust presents the next event in the Vancouver Barracks Military Association‘s Military History Talk series, a presentation by Michelle Marra, a descendent of Dr. Walker. The talk is 6:30 p.m. March 23 at the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver. To attend, call 253-223-0125 or email jddavis@rocketmail.com. Visit vbma.us or thehistorictrust.org/calendar for more information.

Since it was created in the Civil War, the Congressional Medal of Honor has only been awarded to one woman, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. Walker was a woman ahead of her times, fighting for her nation as the first female surgeon in the Union Army. Her wartime service merited the United States’ highest award for bravery. Years later, the medal was rescinded by Congress, but restored again, in the late 20th century. Walker went on to fight for women’s rights as a suffragette. As a leader in the rational dress movement of the late 1880s, she became famous for wearing a top hat and suits with her Congressional Medal of Honor pinned to a lapel.

Upcoming Military History Talks include:

• April 27, 6:30 p.m. – Johnny Clem, Youngest Soldier of the Civil War in Vancouver
• May 25, 6:30 p.m. – More Than Tidying Up or This Old House, 1980s in Vancouver
• June 22, 6:30 p.m. – Fun and Games at the Vancouver Barracks
• July 27, 6:30 p.m. – Military History Talk: Waiting for the Cold War to Heat Up