By CHERYL JENSEN

The Progress

The Daughters of the American Revolution presented a certificate of Award for Women in American History at the Mesquite City Council meeting on Feb. 25 to celebrate March as Women’s History Month. The recognition honors Bertha Howe, who served as a beloved nurse for 33 years in Mesquite. She was a nurse and hospital administrator from 1944 to 1977.

“This recognition is presented to a woman who has been a historical figure in such areas as education, culture, religion, politics or science. We chose Bertha Howe for her outstanding contribution to the City of Mesquite,” said Jean Watkins, president of the DAR. She introduced Geraldine Zarate, Virgin Valley Historical Society President, who accepted the certificate on behalf of Howe.
Zarate shared her memories of Howe. “She was a wonderful person, and our town was much healthier with her care. When I came home from college not feeling well, she was the one I turned to for help. Bertha never had a car, and she walked everywhere she went to visit the sick in their homes.

There was no doctor or paramedics and everyone relied on her care. If there was a severe accident, she was the triage before we went to St. George for more care. She had a large syringe, which we believed was never sharp! She had a magic drug in it – maybe penicillin.” Zarate laughed, thinking of the times Howe had to use the syringe.

Howe and her husband lived in the back rooms of the hospital that is now the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum. The certificate will be on display at the museum along with the baby bassinet and medicine cabinet she used. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Mesquite Library has a display of 18 women who were leaders or presidents of their countries. Among those pictured are Golda Meir of Israel and Margaret Thatcher of the U.K. The community is invited to visit the library to view the pictures and stories of these women leaders.