‘The front line is not always far away’

NEW WINDSOR — The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor has recognized Beatrice MacDonald as a Purple Heart: She was wounded on Aug. 17, 1917, while serving as a nurse during World War I.

MacDonald is the earliest known female recipient of the Purple Heart. Her enrollment in the Roll of Honor also makes her the first World War I recipient (based on date of wounding) currently enrolled at the hall.

“The importance of this enrollment has a significant connection to the present,” officials from the hall of fame said in their press release announcing MacDonald’s selection. “Recent events have opened up combat roles for women. However, Beatrice MacDonald’s situation was not unlike the situation of women soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan. The front line is not always far away.”

In MacDonald’s case, the Germans dropped bombs on her hospital, wounding her in the face and causing her to lose her right eye.

Went to school in NYC
Beatrice Mary McDonald was born on Sept. 27, 1881, on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the sixth of ten children. She enrolled in the New York City School of Nurses and graduated as registered nurse in 1905.

In 1917 she signed on with Presbyterian Hospital Unit #2 and was sent with the unit to assist British Clearing Hospital #61 in Dozinghem, Belgium. It was here that her hospital was bombed, resulting in the loss of here right eye.

McDonald died Sept. 4, 1969, and was buried with full military honors at the Long Island National Cemetery.

MacDonald’s enrollment came about through the efforts of her cousin Myrna Babineau of Prince Edward Island. It was from her interest in keeping her cousin’s memory and accomplishments alive as well as her energy and commitment that resulted in the documentation being provided establishing Beatrice MacDonald’s status as the first known woman to receive the Purple Heart.

Essential information
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located at 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300) in New Windsor.

For more information, visit www.thepurpleheart.com or call 845-561-1765.