On Veterans Day, Harriet Tubman, the legendary abolitionist and Civil War hero, was posthumously awarded the rank of one-star brigadier general in a ceremony at Maryland’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. Governor Wes Moore led the tribute, calling it a historic moment not only for Maryland but for the entire nation.
Tubman, who escaped slavery in 1849, dedicated her life to freedom and equality. She founded the Underground Railroad, leading many enslaved people to freedom, and later served the Union Army as a scout, spy, and nurse during the Civil War. Her efforts included guiding 150 Black soldiers on a raid in South Carolina, making her the first woman to command a U.S. military operation.
The ceremony featured a symbolic pinning by Tubman’s great-great-great-grandniece, Tina Wyatt, who honored Tubman’s legacy of courage and selflessness. Tubman’s legacy continues to inspire: a 14-foot statue by a Black artist will be unveiled in Philadelphia next year, and a Chicago school has been renamed in her honor. However, the initiative to feature Tubman on the $20 bill remains stalled.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.