Harriet Tubman Honored as Brigadier General in Maryland National Guard

Harriet Tubman, a famous figure on the Underground Railroad and a spy for the Union Army, has been made a brigadier general in the Maryland National Guard after her death. The award was given at a ceremony held in Annapolis, Maryland, on Veterans Day. Many of Tubman's relatives, including Ernestine "Tina" Martin Wyatt, her great-great-great-grandniece, were there. The official proclamation was read by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, an Army soldier. It praised Tubman's bravery and leadership.

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She was born in Maryland and is famous for using the Underground Railroad to help hundreds of slaves escape to freedom. But her courage went further than that. In 1861, the governor of Massachusetts hired her as a spy for the Union. During the Civil War, she worked behind Confederate lines to gather information. She led scouting trips that found important Confederate supply sites and troop movements while dressed as a field worker. Tubman's strategic work helped the Union run its more significant operations. For her service, the Union gave her free transportation and money to hire and manage a network of Black agents.

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Governor Moore praised Tubman's selflessness and leadership, pointing out that she lived by Army ideals like "mission-first mentality," honor, duty, and courage. Moore said, "She fought for unity that can only be earned through risk, danger, and sacrifice." The commission recognizes Tubman as a leader whose efforts continue to inspire people and help the country.

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