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What would you do if you overheard a secret that could change the course of history? Could
you walk for over 18 hours, alone, through the woods — with wolves, wildcats, and — just
to give this information to the right person? If you could, then I guess the information
would have to be pretty important. Like the plans that Laura Secord overheard during the
War of 1812. See this woman? That’s Laura Secord. She may look kind of small and dainty,
but she sure had a huge amount of courage. In June 1813, American troops had come to
the Secords’ house demanding food. She really had no other choice, but to give them a meal.
Then, she and her husband eavesdropped on the troops’ conversation. They soon realized
that they were overhearing the American soldiers plotting a surprise attack on the British
outpost of Beaver Dams. Oh no, they couldn’t let that happen! Laura and her husband quickly
decided that they had to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon — the man in charge of the British
troops — about the plans that the Americans were making. Her husband had been seriously
wounded in battle and could not make the journey. But that didn’t stop Laura. The next morning,
she set out alone to warn the British soldiers of the impending danger.
She had to walk for 32 kilometres, and make a long detour following a creek, so that she
would not be seen by American patrols. As night was falling, she wasn’t sure where
to go, or even exactly where she was. And then she came upon an aboriginal encampment.
She was scared to death, but was soon reassured to learn that they were Mohawk scouts for
the British army. They took her directly to Lieutenant FitzGibbon, who was in charge of
a small detachment of 50 men from the 49th Regiment at Beaver Dams. He immediately asked
for the help of the Native warriors to blockade the route, and the American army was ambushed
and driven back. Thanks to Laura Secord, close to 500 Americans surrendered, preventing a
British defeat. Wow! That’s pretty impressive! In 1860, nearly 50 years later, when Laura
Secord was 85 years old, her courageous trek through the bush was finally recognized. During
a visit to Canada, the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) was impressed by her
great act of patriotism and gave her a reward of 100 British pounds. That would be worth
about ten thousands dollars today. Today, Canadian kids like us know all about Laura
Secord. A hundred years after her brave deed, the founder of a small candy shop that sold
chocolates had a bright idea — or maybe you could say it was a delicious idea — of
naming his chocolate shop after Laura Secord. He was inspired by her courage, devotion and
loyalty to Canada. It was — mmmm!— an absolutely DELICIOUS idea!
If you would like to learn about the creation of the sculpture, listen to the clip by the
artist Marlene Hilton Moore.