When
Clara Barton died, the Detroit Free Press wrote, "She was perhaps the most
perfect incarnation of mercy the modern world has known." As a nurse, she
bravely brought supplies and tended to the troops on the battlefield during the
Civil War, earning a reputation as "The Angel of the Battlefield." After the war
she became involved in many other causes for a better world, including women's
right to vote and rights for blacks. While vacationing in Europe in 1870, war
broke out and she volunteered to help care for the wounded with the International
Red Cross. She was so inspired by the work of the Red Cross that she came back
to the United States and campaigned tirelessly for the creation of an American
Red Cross. In 1881 her efforts were successful and she served as President, directing
relief efforts for 23 years. Clara Barton's example of compassion and service
has been an inspiration to many who have dedicated their lives to helping others,
and the American Red Cross she helped to found has aided countless Americans during
times of crisis and natural disasters.
