Clara Barton

A plaque dedicated to Clara Barton (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogercarr/1161707064/)

In the 1800's or 19th century, America was a developing nation. In the mid to late 1800's there was a civil war going on between the north and the south. That's when Clara Barton started to become a hero. She started her career by helping soldiers. She fits the definition because what she started was great and it helped America in the past and still continues to help. She founded the Red Cross, she started small and expanded. She did something unforgettable.

A picture of the Red Cross dedicated to Clara (http://www.flickr.com/photos/valerierenee/211923200/)

In this time period she was out to help others to survive the hardships of war. She got into this business when she was 11 and her brother was hurt. She helped him and it got her interested and she wanted to then help injured people. She would help them by using remedies and curing or healing them and their injuries. It is important because she saved peoples lives and it was important to her and the union. The union appointed her as the lady in charge of the hospitals. She was put in charge of the union soldiers who were missing.

Her career began as a teacher, but then quickly changed to a nurse during the civil war. She started her heroic acts in the civil war, but that wasn't all she did. She was vacationing in Europe when she became involved with the International Committee of the Red Cross. This gave her the idea for what she is most famous for. She came up with the American Red Cross. She started working on the project in 1873 and most people thought it would never face a calamity like the civil war. President James Garfield said it would act on any calamity not just wars. Her first big event was the Sea Islands hurricane and then the Spanish-American war. Those were the biggest things she did, with the help of her new organization.

This is a Red Cross because she created it. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nellee100/200332127/)

Her legacy was being remembered as a nice and caring person shown by her creating an organization for those in need of help. Whenever there was someone who needed help during a crisis, such as disaster or war, the American Red Cross would be there. Her legacy would also be her organization, the American Red Cross. Today they do more than they did in the past. They also do blood donation, tissue services, and more. The most important thing they helped with was the 9/11 attacks. They helped out with it and saved people's lives.

I think if she was around today her advice would be, when you see someone in need, you should help them. With some crises we face today such as the earthquake and cyclone in southern Asia, she would encourage people to help. She would have more people donate blood. She would alleviate these problems and suggest better solutions.