In Search of Remarkable Women
by Susan Howard 

On April 26, 1777, a 16-year-old girl rode 40 miles of desolate countryside to warn the colonists that British troops were torching the city of Danbury, Connecticut. Her name was Sybil Ludington. On that same day 162 years later, a future president of the NRA was born. Her name is Marion P. Hammer.

Sybil Ludington, Revolutionary War heroine. Marion Hammer, modern-day Second Amendment heroine. Ludington and Hammer have been legends in their own times. They were born from what makes America great: patriotism, freedom, and the will to do what is right. It is no wonder the NRA Women's Policies Committee named the Women's Freedom Award in Sybil Ludington's honor and in 1995, unanimously selected Marion Hammer to be its first recipient.

What else do these two patriots have in common besides the significance of April 26? Plenty.

Both of these women experienced humble beginnings on the East Coast in two of the 13 original colonies. Ludington was born in rural New York, while Hammer was raised in rural South Carolina. They both attended public school. Ludington is believed to have been quite competent with a muzzleloader--she could even start a fire with one. Having learned to shoot when she was 5, Hammer developed keen marksmanship skills, which garnered her numerous shooting championships using a muzzleloader.

Both Ludington's and Hammer's fathers served their country. Col. Henry Ludington fought in the French and Indian War before he re- enlisted to defend the colonies from British tyranny. Hammer's father served in the U.S. Navy and perished on Okinawa in World War II, helping to preserve freedom not only for America but also for the world.

The examples set by these women demonstrate the confidence, self-reliance and courage necessary to pursue their destinies. They have stood up for what they believed in: Ludington desired to help her father defeat British tyranny, and Hammer desires to preserve the Second Amendment. Neither heroine made an issue about her involvement; each acted because she believed it was the right thing to do.

Ludington made history when her father needed to be two places at the same time that night: warning his countrymen that the British were burning Danbury and staying home to organize his troops when they arrived. Ludington begged her father to let her make the ride. He finally relented, and moments later she galloped into the night to alert the troops about the impending British raid. At sunrise, Ludington returned home exhausted, but her bravery was evident as the colonel's troops were able to drive the enemy back to Long Island Sound.

Hammer has made history numerous times in the fight to protect the Bill of Rights. In 1976, she registered as a lobbyist and volunteered for the NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida. Since securing viable legislation to enact a Right-to-Carry law was critical to Florida citizens, she educated state legislators and networked with activists on the grassroots level. In 1987, she was successful, and Florida's Right-to-Carry law has been model legislation for other states.

In 1996, Hammer became the first woman elected president in NRA's 125-year history and was chosen for a second one-year term this past spring. She has traveled extensively, emphasizing the importance of educating young people about the responsibilities that accompany the rights of firearm ownership and the need to introduce them to the fun of the shooting sports. At the 1997 National Matches, Hammer was the first NRA president in many years to be given the honor of firing the first shot.

Other organizations have recognized her leadership. For example, in 1993 the National Safety Council presented her with its Outstanding Community Service Award for creating the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program, and in 1997 she was presented an Outstanding Women Achievement Award by Florida's Secretary of State.

Yes, both women have been pioneers in their own time. Ludington's courage and devotion to preserve freedom was virtually unknown to the country until a postage stamp commemorating her perilous ride was created during America's bicentennial celebration. The Women's Policies Committee brought her further into the limelight when they named the Women's Freedom Award in her memory. This award is the paramount honor a woman receives from the NRA, and Hammer was the inaugural award recipient for her commitment to preserving the Second Amendment and the creation of the Eddie Eagle program. Alice H. Bull, NRA's first woman director and a pioneer in many facets of the shooting sports received the award in 1996, and the 1997 award winner was tireless right-to-carry champion and Texas state Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp.

The Women's Policies Committee members have embarked on their quest for the 1998 Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award winner. If you would like to nominate someone who embodies the spirit of Ludington's courage, please call the Women's Issues Department for nomination criteria and application: (800) 861-1166 or (703) 267- 1413 or visit our home page at http://www.nra.org/wips/wips2.htm. Nominations will be accepted until January 31, 1998.