By way of ohio.com and UPublish comes this story about Beachwood, OH woman who finally got some overdue recognition.
UPublish story by Sherry Gavanditti
POSTED: 05:06 p.m. EDT, Oct 13, 2008
At 86 years of age, Rebecca P Eden, RN, BSN and WW II United States Army Nurse Corps Veteran, still resembles the rosy-cheeked face of the young woman in the 8 x 10 photographs that rest in her lap. In each picture, a proud and determined woman stares back with a subtle compassionate smile. When she enlisted in the Army in 1944, she was unaware that she would be honored by being inducted into the 2008 class of the Ohio War Veterans Hall of Fame.
When General George Patton Jr., Commander of the US Third Army in World War II, said, “Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men,” perhaps he should have given thought to the crucial role of the women who served, especially the nurses who cared for the wounded soldiers. Rebecca still remembers her patients; soldiers whose lives would be changed forever due to their wounds or traumatic shock from battle, with scars to verify that their nightmares were real. Rebecca remarks that war is different now then it was then, and she questions whether she would have been able to have the same impact in this generation’s wars. But her children, who nominated her for this honor, are aware of her strengths and abilities, and know that she has always risen to challenges she has faced while helping others along the way.
This month, Rebecca will be honored for her military service to her country and her ongoing service to her community when she is inducted into the Ohio Veteran’s Hall of Fame in Columbus. The event begins with an evening reception on November 6th. On Friday, November 7th, Rebecca will participate in the Veterans Day parade in Columbus, and the formal induction ceremony will be held that afternoon with Gov. Ted Strickland presiding over the ceremony. Keep reading…
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