Gifts with a history.
In 1918 the guns of the First World War went quiet. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains that the armistice “went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” and that for this reason “November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of ‘the war to end […]
On September 13 and 14, 1814, British forces attacked Baltimore. The National Park Service says “the valiant defense of the fort during the Battle of Baltimore on September 13-14, 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the U.S. national anthem.” The fort’s commander, Major George Armistead, had prepared for this moment. […]
On October 3, 1789, President George Washington set aside a national day of thanks. He wrote: “I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November
Before they ever set foot ashore, the passengers of the Mayflower put their names to a short agreement. They pledged to “covenant and combine ourselves tog
The Library of Congress notes that “Abraham Lincoln was the second speaker on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg.” “Lincoln was preceded on the podium by the famed orator Edward Everett, who spoke to the crowd for two hours.” Lincoln followed with the short address that is still […]