U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for November 22

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22: MEDAL OF HONOR

Profile America — Monday, November 22nd.  Among those remembered at Veterans Day ceremonies earlier this month were more than 3,400 who have received the nation's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor.  One woman is on that list — Mary Walker, cited for heroism in the Civil War by generals William T. Sherman and George Thomas.  As the first woman surgeon in the U.S. Army, she was often exposed to great danger, operating as battles raged.  Walker not only tended Union troops but crossed lines to help wounded Confederates as well.  At one point, she was captured and made a prisoner of war.  Today in the U.S. Army, there are 13,500 women officers — nearly 15 1/2 percent of the service's commissioned officers.  Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  www.history.army.mil/moh.html

               Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 498

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau