Clara Barton: American Patriot

Remarkably intelligent, resolutely brave, and readily committed, Clara Barton, the angel of the battlefield, became a heroine for girls. Born on Christmas in Oxford, Massachusetts, she grew up in a large family. While growing up in a typical farm family, she was bright and hard working. In the Civil War, Clara Barton helped fallen soldiers in some very interesting places on the battlefield. She also started the Red Cross in America after the war, which became her life’s work.

While being youngest of seven children, Clara Barton was also shy and small. Living on a farm, Clara was home schooled. Happily, she delighted in animals like her pet turkey. Suddenly her brother David got smallpox when she was eleven, which was very serious, and made her aware of suffering. Clara once told her father she was going skating, and he told her that where she was going was not appropriate for young women, but she deliberately disobeyed him and skated anyway. While she was skating, she fell and hurt her knee. She didn’t tell her father, but her knee became infected, and she had to admit what she had done. But she resolved from that point on that she would help the hurt. For being smallest and youngest of seven children, Clara had a big future waiting for her.

During the Civil War, food and supplies were scarce, which meant the American troops were starving on the battlefield. Determinedly, Clara Barton bravely distributed supplied to those in need. While the war was raging, the president requested that Clara find many missing men. Clara became superintendent of nurses as she worked continuously near the front lines of the battlefield. During the war she also suffered from nervous exhaustion from strenuous work.

After the war, Clara departed for Europe to study the Red Cross action. When Clara finally came back to America, she treated many sick and started the famous American Red Cross. Working as president of the Red Cross for twenty-three years, Clara, who decided it was long enough, resigned her position. Actually, the Red Cross still exists today because of Clara Barton.

Growing up in a large family, Clara Barton helped with sick siblings which ultimately led to her love for being a nurse. Determinedly working on the battle field during war, Clara Barton was resolute in her job. While helping sick during the Civil War, she also started the Red Cross in America, which she gave her life to. Americans remember Clara Barton for her patriotism and founding the Red Cross.