the war bird
Today, it’s worth remembering that America is a nation which has long honored courage.
Throughout our history, exemplars of courage have served as rallying points during the darkest times.
Our list of heroic men and women is long.
Included on this list are the war dogs who served during the nation’s conflicts, sniffing out bombs and hidden enemies and protecting their units from unseen danger.
To this list, add an American bald eagle christened Old Abe, named after the president who proclaimed, “that right makes might” and challenged men to ‘dare to do their duty as they understood it.’
Wearing this badge of honor, the bald eagle, Old Abe, served the Union cause with courage during the Civil War.
But Old Abe didn’t start out as a war bird.
He began life as the hatchling captive of a Chippewa chief who traded Abe to a merchant from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
And more bird trading followed.
Eventually, the young eaglet eventually found himself a proud member of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was setting off to fight in the Civil War.
The Wisconsin soldiers made him their mascot and took him along as they engaged in dozens of battles and skirmishes in the western theater of the war.
And Old Abe saw all the action.
He eventually made it all the way to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where, for three months, he helped Grant lay siege to the Confederate stronghold.
And throughout, Old Abe was a delight.
He’d generate chuckles by pilfering goodies, and he even learned to do a couple of tricks.
Somebody taught him to spread his wings on command.
And when a soldier pulled out a harmonica, Old Abe would dance to the music.
When Old Abe’s tour of duty ended, he was quartered in the Wisconsin capitol building in Madison.
Later on, after he had ‘crossed the rainbow bridge,’ Old Abe’s remains were preserved, and people came to the Wisconsin Historical Society for years to gaze in admiration at this Wisconsin hero.
He had done his duty, as he understood it.
Legends are made of less.
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I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda
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