Because history repeats itself, and you should learn from history. Joan of Arc stood for France, in the Hundred Year's War. The story was not about her, it was

Because history repeats itself, and you should learn from history. Joan of Arc stood for France, in the Hundred Year's War. The story was not about her, it was about the country, the people. But yet, her narrative, the ideas she had, her martyrdom, etc all had a profound impact on the events of history, and lead the changing of the tides of the war. A war is not fought on a martyr's backs. Sometimes, it takes 22 more years for the job to be finished. This doesn't mean putting someone up as an example isn't warranted, nor is it dilute or make the narrative of the people any less powerful.