Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.

Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.

Whereas, on November 26, 1832, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (referred to in this preamble as “Dr. Walker”) was born in the town of Oswego, New York;

Whereas, at the start of the Civil War, Dr. Walker decided to serve as an unpaid volunteer surgeon at the United States Patent Office Hospital in Washington, DC, as she was not allowed to serve in the Army as a medical officer because she was a woman;

Whereas, in 1862, Dr. Walker moved to the Commonwealth of Virginia and started treating wounded soldiers near the front lines at Fredericksburg and Chattanooga, Tennessee;

Whereas, during her work as a surgeon in the war, Dr. Walker often crossed battle lines to care for soldiers and civilians;

Whereas, in September 1864, Dr. Walker was contracted as the assistant surgeon of the Ohio 52nd Infantry, becoming the first female surgeon in the Army;

Whereas Dr. Walker served at the Louisville Women's Prison Hospital and at an orphan asylum in Clarksville, Tennessee;

Whereas, after the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, Dr. Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service by President Andrew Johnson; and

Whereas Dr. Walker continued to advocate for women's rights, including promoting dress reform and pushing for women's suffrage, believing strongly in the power of self-determination and equality between men and women: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) honors the life and legacy of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, recognizing her as a trailblazer in medicine, a champion for women’s rights, and a true United States hero who exemplified the ideals of service, courage, and resilience; and

(2) commits to ensuring the story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is remembered and celebrated for generations to come, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps in pursuit of justice and equality.