On a recent chilly day in Manhattan, a group of veterans marched a dozen miles up the island — from the historic Fraunces Tavern to the spot where the first woman pensioned by the United States Army fired her cannon at British redcoats.
Her name was Margaret Corbin — and now there’s a bill in Congress to name the Manhattan VA for her. It’s part of another movement, to change the motto of the Department of Veterans Affairs so that it reflects that women do — and have always — served in the armed forces.
“There is no better or more appropriate veteran to name the Manhattan VA after than Margaret Corbin,” said Kristen Rouse, a three-tour Afghanistan Army veteran. Rouse organized the Nov. 16 “ruck-march” in Corbin’s honor, 242 years to the day after her heroic actions.
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