SHE GAVE HER MOST PRIZED POSSESSION

        At Sunday worship yesterday, we heard again the beloved story of the Widow's Mite in which Jesus told His disciples the significance of the poor woman’s gift gave as she entered the Temple. “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)

        Yesterday, November 11, 2018, was also the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, so it is time to hear how another woman, Mary Babnik Brown (1907–1991), gave a significant gift to her country in wartime. A daughter of Slovenian descent living in Pueblo, Colorado, Brown had left school at age 12 to help support her family. At age 13 was hired at the National Broom Factory at 75 cents a day, and she worked there for the next 42 years.

         In 1943, this 37 year-old housewife saw a newspaper advertisement looking for blond hair at least 22 inches long which had never been treated with chemicals or hot irons. As her most prized possession, Brown’s hair had never been cut. It measured 34 inches and was worn in a braid wrapped on top of her head. She was known as the “Lady With the Crown.” 

        The government offered to buy her hair with war stamps, but seeing it as her duty to help the war effort, she took no payment. Losing her hair was traumatic, but she adjusted with help from her supportive family and friends. Brown remained a lifelong Pueblo resident, active in society, politics and Colorado's State Federation of Labor. 

        Mary Babnik Brown had no idea how her hair had been used until 1987 when President Ronald Reagan wrote to thank on her 80th birthday, and revealed to her its use. A highly secret military program had used her hair to make crosshairs inside Norden bombsights used in the highly successful B-24, B-29 and B-17 aircraft. Her gift had helped win World War Two. In 1991, Brown received a special achievement award at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. She died later that year.

        Our Lord gave His supreme sacrifice for us on Calvary’s cross. His death and resurrection won the war against the evils of Satan. Evil may still seem to prevail in our world, but it cannot separate us from the love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus our Savior.

Thank you Mary, and all who have served to give us our freedoms

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com