Anecdote
HENRY WIRZ – WAR CRIMINAL
Henry Wirz was one of the villains of the Civil War and one of only two men who were executed for war crimes after the war. Wirz was a Swiss immigrant at age 26. He settled in the South Read more…
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BENJAMIN BANNEKER
Benjamin Banneker was one of the first African-American intellectuals in America. He was born on November 9, 1731. His father was a freed black and his mother was the daughter of a white indentured servant. He was self-educated. He Read more…
Anecdote
MILO OF CROTON
Milo of Croton was the strongest man in Ancient Greece. He got that way by carrying a newborn calf on his shoulders every day. As the calf grew into a fully grown cow, Milos gradually got stronger. To maintain Read more…
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BONFIRE NIGHT
On Nov. 5, Brits get together to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. They build a bonfire which they dance around. They sing chants and shoot off fireworks. They shout this poem: Remember, remember the firth of November / Read more…
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WILFRED OWEN
One of the greatest poets of the Great War was born on March 18, 1893. He came from a middle class family. In grade school he became interested in poetry. He was influenced by the Bible and Romantic poets Read more…
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BILL MAULDIN
The most famous cartoonist of WWII was Bill Mauldin. He was born on October 29, 1921. He enlisted in the National Guard and three days later his division was federalized. The 45th Infantry Division served in Sicily and Italy. Read more…
Anecdote
STATUE OF LIBERTY FACTS
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Officially it is named “Liberty Enlightening the World”. The sculptor was Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. He modelled the face after his mother. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel was the structural engineer. The crown has 25 Read more…
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TEDDY’S BIRTHDAY
In honor of the 163rd anniversary of Teddy Roosevelt’s birthday, here is a list of trivia items about America’s most interesting President. – he was blinded in the left eye during a sparring match when he was President – he Read more…
Anecdote
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Today is the anniversary of the birthday of John Heisman. Heisman was a great innovator in college football and has the trophy given to each year’s best player named after him. The sportsmanship trophy is not named after him. In Read more…
Anecdote
ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR
Annie Edson Taylor decided to celebrate her 63rd birthday in a unique way. Mrs. Taylor was a schoolteacher and she needed money. Imagine that. She figured a publicity stunt would bring fame and fortune. No one had ever survived Read more…