On the night of April 26, 1777, a wounded messenger barely reached the home of New York militia officer Henry Ludington with desperate news of a British attack on nearby Danbury, Connecticut. Munitions and supplies for the entire region's militia were at stake, and with not a moment to spare, Colonel Ludington turned to his 16-year old daughter, Sybil for help. While he organized the local militia, Sybil mounted her horse and galloped through the night to rally troops in the surrounding countryside. Trekking on dirt roads that were unknown to her, Sybil never lost sight of her mission -- to alert the patriots about the British attack, thereby preserving the cause of freedom. By risking her life that dark and desolate night, Sybil made a profound difference in America's successful pursuit to become a free and independent nation. For her act of courage, General Washington and General Rochambeau personally thanked her. Now to honor her accomplishment and the accomplishments of modern heroines, the National Rifle Association bestows the prestigious Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award in her name.

NRA's 2009 Sybil Ludington Freedom Award honoree is Linda Walker of Alexandria, Ohio.

Click here for the 2010 Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award Nomination Form. All nominations must be received by November 1 in order to be considered.