Barbara Fritchie

Biography

Barbara Fritchie, born in 1766, became a symbol of unwavering patriotism when she allegedly waved a Union flag from her Frederick, Maryland, window as Confederate troops passed below. Celebrated in poetry and song, her defiance reflected a lifelong commitment to the ideals of liberty during a century of storms.

She spent her later years in Washington, D.C., and on her death was laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery, where visitors pause to remember the courage of a woman whose actions inspired hope for unity when the nation needed it most.