Norfolk Deeds recognizes LTG Maria Barrett and MG Paula Lodi as part of Women's Equality Day

Norfolk Deeds (@NorfolkDeeds) posted on Thu, Aug 01, 2024:

"In honor of Women's Equality Day this month, we want to recognize the contributions women made in shaping this county and the country.  

Heroic women like LTG Maria Barrett and MG Paula Lodi, both from Franklin, and the first two sisters in U.S. Army to achieve the rank of General."

Lt General Maria Barrett and Major General Paula Lodi

 Shared from ->  https://t.co/622vpISJ9Q

In the News: Lodi sisters in video interview

In September 2019, the story of the Lodi sisters as the first sisters to be generals in the US Army appeared in the news. Military Kind, a part of USA Today, has just shared a video interview with the Lodi sisters:

"Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and younger sister Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi have become the first two sisters to attain the general’s rank in the service’s 244-year history. 

The two sisters talk about what leadership is and about their leadership styles. In this sit down interview, they talk about how their father, Ruston Lodi, set an example in many ways including as an elementary school principal. 

“He was always out front greeting the children as they got off the bus, whether it was ran or shine,” said Lodi. She said she has always been adamant about being on the tarmac when soldiers are deploying or returning from deployment. “I had a sergeant major one time ask me, who taught you that. ... I would like to think it is a little bit connected to who he was.”

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/militarykind/2020/01/16/244-years-army-has-never-seen-sisters-like/2607535001/




Links to the prior Franklin Matters posts
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/the-sisters-achievement-is-remarkable.html

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/in-news-2-follow-up-articles-on-lodi.html

Original USA Today article
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/05/army-first-two-sisters-become-generals/2094498001/

Military Kind video link
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/life/militarykind/2020/01/15/244-years-army-has-never-seen-sisters-like/4476605002/

In the News: 2 follow up articles on the Lodi sisters

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are believed to be the first pair of sisters to become generals, the military branch’s highest category of rank. The sisters grew up in Franklin - the daughters of Clara and Ruston Lodi. 

One sister had wanted to be a soldier since she was young; the other planned to have a career in the Foreign Service. Both marked a milestone for the U.S. Army this summer: Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are believed to be the first pair of sisters to become generals, the military branch’s highest category of rank. 

“The fact that both of us would have come from the same family, it almost makes you want to go out and get a lottery ticket,” Barrett told The Washington Post. “Except, this is not a game of chance. It is hard work, it is strong leadership skills, it’s strong technical competency. Then you realize that this is a very tough bar in and of itself for both of us to make it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190908/franklin-natives-are-first-sisters-to-become-army-generals-they-say-it-was-not-game-of-chance-it-is-hard-work

"Carlo Lodi is in the awe of his younger sisters Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi. 

Being nearly 10 years older than both of them, he can still recall the times they spent on their bikes flinging newspapers on to people’s porches accomplishing their paper routes. 

Now, the two sisters are the first in the history of the United States Army to both earn the rank of general - the military branch’s highest rank. 

“They will always be my younger sisters,” Lodi said. “But when I go down and watch promotion ceremonies - whether it be for Paula or for Maria - and hear what people have to say about them, it’s unbelievable.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190908/franklin-natives---lodi-siblings---reflect-on-their-sisters-historic-achievements-in-us-army