In 1919, Raymond Orteig, a French immigrant and hotel owner in New York City, attended a dinner organized by the Aero Club of America honoring the World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Rickenbacker had received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Medal of Honor for his bravery, as well the Croix de Guerre from France … Continue reading The Flying Fool
history
Call Your Mother
When you think of Mother's Day, you probably think of cards, flowers, or candy for the woman who gave you life.But did you know those things are the exact opposite of what the creator of Mother's Day meant for the day? In the United States, our modern day "Mother's Day" got its start with an … Continue reading Call Your Mother
Wait? What War?
My husband is a military history buff. As a pilot in the USAF, it should come as no surprise that he enjoys reading and watching all things related to US military history. He can spout off names, dates, and battles like a Jeopardy! contestant; it's enough to make your head spin.But as I was researching … Continue reading Wait? What War?
Let’s Hear it for Libraries!
During the pandemic, I missed a lot of things. Social gatherings. Reliable school schedules. Hugs. But, honestly, the thing I missed the most was my public library. I never truly appreciated its existence or the simple joy it offered---hundreds if not thousands of books, free of charge, for me to peruse at my leisure. Free … Continue reading Let’s Hear it for Libraries!
When the Forgotten War Wasn’t So Forgotten
Sometimes, when I sit down to write a #historyfriday post, my *own* history collides with it.On March 26, 2010, a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy vessel, the Cheonan, was allegedly sunk by a North Korean torpedo near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea. A rescue operation recovered 58 survivors but 46 sailors were killed. Despite … Continue reading When the Forgotten War Wasn’t So Forgotten
Grapefruit in the Eye..er, Sky
The early twentieth century marked the beginning of the heyday of aviation. Following the Wright Brothers' success at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the world became captivated by flight, and the rush to go the highest, furthest, and fastest was on. Whether events were momentous, such as the first transcontinental flight across North America (made by … Continue reading Grapefruit in the Eye..er, Sky
Lean In…Literally
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is symbol of Italy, a glorious structure that conjures images of rolling Tuscan fields, freshly baked pizza, and miles and miles of vineyards.And yet, in reality, it is a historical landmark only still standing because of its home country's humbleness and the grit and determination of a multi-national team of … Continue reading Lean In…Literally
Pass the Chocolates, Please
In honor of Valentine's Day, today's #historyfriday is a throwback to my 2019 post about the, um, unorthodox history behind the holiday of love. It definitely didn't start out with paper hearts and boxes of chocolates.Check out the post here. Happy Valentine's Day!
Plagiarism in Verona?
"Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" You may have never heard of The Globe. It's possible you know nothing about PotPan or Prince Escalus or Friar John. It's even plausible that you could be in the minority of people who don't know the name of Shakespeare. But its almost inconceivable that you would not know … Continue reading Plagiarism in Verona?
Throwback #historyfriday
Hello! No new #historyfriday post today. Instead, in honor of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I'm throwing it back to a post I wrote about his life and his legacy. You can read it here Have a great weekend!
