In a historic Veterans Day ceremony, renowned abolitionist Harriet Tubman was posthumously awarded the rank of brigadier general in the Maryland National Guard. The event, held at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Church Creek, Maryland, honored Tubman's remarkable military service and her enduring legacy as a freedom fighter.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore presided over the ceremony, which saw dozens of attendees, including Tubman's descendants, military personnel, and community leaders. The governor emphasized the significance of the occasion, stating, "Today, we celebrate a soldier and a person who earned the title of veteran. Today we celebrate one of the greatest authors of the American story."
Tubman, born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, escaped to Philadelphia in 1849. Rather than remaining in safety, she courageously returned to Maryland multiple times to lead other enslaved individuals to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Her experiences as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War, including her leadership of 150 Black soldiers in a gunboat raid in South Carolina, made her the first woman to oversee an American military action during wartime.
Major General Janeen Birckhead, who participated in the ceremony, described the recognition as "long overdue." The posthumous award was made possible by a recently passed state law allowing the governor to bestow certain honors posthumously.
Tina Wyatt, Tubman's great-great-great-grandniece, accepted the symbolic pinning on behalf of her ancestor. Wyatt highlighted Tubman's selflessness, saying, "Aunt Harriet was one of those veterans informally. She gave up any rights that she had obtained for herself to be able to fight for others."
Governor Moore praised Tubman's unwavering commitment to freedom, noting, "She knew that leadership means you have to be willing to do what you are asking others to do." He added that Tubman exemplified the military principle of "leave no one behind" in her tireless efforts to guide others to freedom.
This recognition adds to recent efforts to honor Tubman's legacy, including plans for a statue in Philadelphia and the renaming of a Chicago elementary school. The ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of Tubman's extraordinary contributions to American history and her enduring impact as a symbol of courage and freedom.