Globally Inspired

One of WWII's most distinguished spies was not only an American socialite, but an amputee. At the age of 27, Virginia Hall lost her leg from the knee down in a hunting accident, but she didn't let it keep her from her dreams of working for the foreign service. She strapped on her wooden leg, gave it the name of Cuthbert, and insisted her mastery of foreign languages and drive for adventure made her the perfect candidate for clandestine work.

Hall's persistence paid off. After a stint as an ambulance driver in war torn France in 1940, she made her way to England to join the S.O.E, Special Operations Executive. The S.O.E. was Churchill's secret organization of spies and saboteurs who would blow up trains, bridges and factories, engage in guerilla warfare, and encourage and aid revolt, in all enemy and enemy-controlled countries.

Hall was sent to France, where she was involved in delivering money, organizing escape networks, recruiting French civilians to run safe houses, and sending and receiving communications. She was known as the "Limping Lady," and when the Gestapo finally ferreted her out, she was forced to traverse the treacherous Pyrenees to safety  --- wooden leg and all.

...not because George Washington or Abraham Lincoln's birthdays were on February 20th, but because of government simplification (don't laugh). Both presidents were indeed worthy of having their birthdays celebrated on a national level, but the federal government always seemed to slow down when it stopped mid-week to honor the occasion. In 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed and in 1971 it was signed into law by President Nixon. Since then, the third Monday of February has been known as Presidents Day.

February 22, 1956