Friends,
Memorial Day is a time to honor and mourn the U.S. military personnel who lost their lives in service to our country, including the women who have served throughout American history — often long before they were formally acknowledged or accepted.
After the Civil War, Memorial Day became an official day of remembrance for the Americans who died in service, including the estimated 400 to 1,000 women who secretly fought by disguising themselves as men. One of the most notable was Sarah Emma Edmonds, who enlisted in the 2nd Michigan Infantry under the name Franklin Flint Thompson, and later became the only woman to receive a veteran’s pension for Civil War service. Reflecting on her decision to serve, she wrote, “I could only thank God that I was free and could go forward and work, and I was not obliged to stay at home and weep.”
Her story represents only a fraction of the over 3 million women who have served in or alongside the armed forces since the American Revolution.
At Emerge, we believe representation matters because stories like these matter. By recognizing the women who have served, sacrificed, and paved the way for future generations, we continue the work of ensuring their contributions are seen, remembered, and celebrated.
-Emerge HQ
Emerge America
www.emergeamerica.org
4 Embarcadero Center
Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94111
United States