Soror_Peregrina"Pigeons may come in many shapes and shades,
"From the fanciest feathers to the plainest greys,
"But each one is worthy, gentle, and true, and deserves love."
One of my favorite artists — Artsy Bird Squad — has drawn multiple types of pigeons, which she loves (so do I). In the middle of the bottom panel is a one-legged homing pigeon, Cher Ami, a hero of WWI who saved 194 lives delivering a message to cease inadvertent friendly fire (it read "We are along the road parallel 276.4. Our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it."). Cher Ami was gravely wounded on the trip, losing a leg, an eye, and he was shot through the breast, but still, he flew on.
This hero bird flew 12 missions, receiving intense medical treatment for the injuries sustained during his last one, but sadly, only lived to the age of one year.
And although the convention was to refer to homing pigeons as 'she,' Cher Ami, having been given a DNA test, turned out to be a male.
Artist — Artsy Bird Squad
Mag Magazine
Renn Kane