Pancha Carrasco
Encyclopedia
Pancha Carrasco born Francisca Carrasco Jiménez, was Costa Rica
's first woman in the military. Carrasco is most famous for joining the defending forces at the Battle of Rivas
in 1856 with a rifle and bullets. The strength and determination she showed there made her a symbol of national pride and she was later honored with a Costa Rican postage stamp, a Coast Guard vessel, and the creation of the "Pancha Carrasco Police Women's Excellence Award".
, of mixed Indian, Black, and Spanish heritage, the daughter of Jose Francisco and Maria Carrasco. She was married three times, first in 1834 with Juan Solano, and the last one with Gil Zúñiga; however, none of them worked out.
In 1856 (age 40), when William Walker and his filibusteros invaded Costa Rica, Carrasco volunteered as a cook and a medic. She is most famous for filling her apron pockets with bullets, grabbing a rifle, and joining the defending forces at the Battle of Rivas
, becoming Costa Rica's first woman in the military
The Costa Rican Security Ministry established a "Pancha Carrasco Police Women's Excellence Award" in her honor."Female Cop Awarded Excellence Award", Tico Times, 2 September 2002. The former U.S. Coast Guard cutter Point Bridge was renamed Pancha Carrasco in her honor when it was turned over to the Costa Rican Coast Guard in 2001."Decommissioning Ceremony", U.S. Coast Guard, 28 September 2001.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
's first woman in the military. Carrasco is most famous for joining the defending forces at the Battle of Rivas
Battle of Rivas
The Second Battle of Rivas occurred on 11 April 1856 between Costa Rican militia under General Mora and the Nicaraguan forces of William Walker...
in 1856 with a rifle and bullets. The strength and determination she showed there made her a symbol of national pride and she was later honored with a Costa Rican postage stamp, a Coast Guard vessel, and the creation of the "Pancha Carrasco Police Women's Excellence Award".
Biography
In 1816, Francisca Carrasco Jiménez was born on 8 April in Cartago, Costa RicaCartago, Costa Rica
- See also :* Cartago Agrarian Union Party* Provincial Integration Party Three* Cartago in Spanish...
, of mixed Indian, Black, and Spanish heritage, the daughter of Jose Francisco and Maria Carrasco. She was married three times, first in 1834 with Juan Solano, and the last one with Gil Zúñiga; however, none of them worked out.
In 1856 (age 40), when William Walker and his filibusteros invaded Costa Rica, Carrasco volunteered as a cook and a medic. She is most famous for filling her apron pockets with bullets, grabbing a rifle, and joining the defending forces at the Battle of Rivas
Battle of Rivas
The Second Battle of Rivas occurred on 11 April 1856 between Costa Rican militia under General Mora and the Nicaraguan forces of William Walker...
, becoming Costa Rica's first woman in the military
Legacy
Her strength and determination became a symbol of national pride, and she was honored on a Costa Rican postage stamp in 1984.It was issued on 10 April 1984 as the 1.50 Colon value in a four value set honoring national heroes. "Costa Rica", Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog, 1986, Vol 2, p. 687, column 4.The Costa Rican Security Ministry established a "Pancha Carrasco Police Women's Excellence Award" in her honor."Female Cop Awarded Excellence Award", Tico Times, 2 September 2002. The former U.S. Coast Guard cutter Point Bridge was renamed Pancha Carrasco in her honor when it was turned over to the Costa Rican Coast Guard in 2001."Decommissioning Ceremony", U.S. Coast Guard, 28 September 2001.