Tuesday, May 26, 2009

CATHOLIC NUNS OF THE BATTLEFIELD

Author unknown

The "Nuns of the Battlefield" memorial was dedicated on September 20, 1924 in honor of the members of religious orders who had been employed by the Union Army to care for sick and wounded military men during the US Civil War.

The monument, located at the corner of Rhode Island and M Streets, consists of a granite shaft with a large bronze panel portraying twelve nuns representing various religious orders who served in Army hospitals.

The monument was sponsored by the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Still available through used book outlets is the book "Nuns of the Battlefield" (1927) that was written by Ellen Ryan Jolly, who was National President of the LAOH. The book was written in order to provide documentation for the construction of the monument and details all the orders that participated as nurses and their members who served.

Pictures of the monument on the web indicate that it may not be in the best shape. Maybe someone could pick up the idea of a restoration project? Since the memorial was originally designed to be located at Arlington National Cemetary, a relcoation and restoration might also be in order as it certainly deserves recognition with the chaplain's memorials.

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