Nurses Week

Clara Barton, founder of American Red Cross
Nurses Week

Upon paying respect. first and foremost, a week honoring our nation's nurses, is not long enough.  every day, we should thank them for their nurturing care and wealth of knowledge, especially those that have taken the extra time to study and take on becoming Nurse Practitioner.

Quietly, going back in my memory many years, as a little girl-child, one of my first Santa gifts was a nurse's kit.  I remember a black cape with the Red Cross button, and a little black bag.  As a Mom, on our trip to Washington, DC,  my daughter and I traveled to Glen Cove Maryland, to visit the Clara Barton National Historic Site.  Some earlier childhood dreams are never forgotten.  My daughter too had had a little black bag, and was often taking the heart beats of her dolls.

We arrived just about the closing time, but the National Park Ranger, opened up and we were able to view the interior, where Clara Barton began the American Red Cross.  As I recall, the interior was two story, with an open balcony, and all of her living furniture in place.  The NPS Ranger went over a brief history of her life with us.  When our nation opens up, take time to visit.

https://www.nps.gov/clba/index.html

Fast forward to today, I wondered what Clara Barton would have to say about the Pandemic.  Most certain, she would be on the front lines, and helping non-stop. She set forth an example from working on the battlefield during the Civil War, to being so inspired to establish what is considered today the foremost volunteer organization that provides: "service to humanity". Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881, and served as President until 1904, at the age of 83.  She was determined that our country should participate in the global Red Cross network.  What courage that took, and found in the history books, many of her friends helped including Frederick Douglass.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon at the American Red Cross in Washington, DC.  Invited in with a group of the backpackers, and one special youth, a military child, to speak at the Bank of America Youth Meeting. The afternoon was spent packing kits to be shipped to the deployed military service members, we met staff, and learned more about the wide range of support that the American Red Cross offers.

Clara Barton certainly would be proud, and imagine this was all so inspired, and began as a result of a NURSE, to solve a problem in helping heal the sick.

Wonders await us ahead, as most certain our health care, while the best in the world, Nurses are now on the front line.

Visit the American Red Cross for how to volunteer, and learn more about Clara Barton.

 https://www.redcross.org










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