thedrifter
02-13-09, 09:17 AM
Many U.S. heroes honored in February
February 13, 2009
"Isn't it strange that princes and kings,
"And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
"And common people like you and me,
"Are builders of eternity?
"Each is given a shapeless mass,
"A bag of tools and a set of rules,
"And each must make 'ere life is flown,
"A stumbling block or a stepping stone."
-- R.L Sharpe,
"A Bag of Tools"
The month of February recognizes many citizens for their achievements and contributions to the building of our great nation. We are a great nation of great people. However we must always remember we are not great people because of a great nation, but we are a great nation because of great people. Many of our citizens are cited for building stepping stones for future generations to follow.
• On Feb, 3, 1943, the United States troop ship Dorchester was torpedoed and sunk in the mid-Atlantic. Four chaplains of different religious faiths were serving aboard the ship. They voluntarily gave their life jackets to four soldiers so they could survive. Their heroism prompted President Gerald Ford to create "International Clergy Week" in commemoration of their heroic act. Congress awarded posthumously Distinguished Service Awards to the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chaplains: George Fox of Vermont, Clark Polling of New York, John Washington of New Jersey and Alexander Goede of Pennsylvania.
• Feb, 7, 1984, will always be remembered as the date President Ronald Reagan ordered the withdrawal of Marines from the airport at Beirut to a U.S. Navy ship on the coast of Lebanon.
• Feb. 12, 1809, is the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and is credited with saving our union of states.
• Feb. 15, 1898, is the date the U.S. Battleship Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor. Taps had been sounded. Crew members were bunked. Capt. Charles Sigsbee was in his cabin. At 9:40 p.m. there was a huge explosion and a large column of flame rose from the ship. Lights went out. The ship began to sink. Of the men aboard, 288 died. Cause was determined to be a mine. On April 18 we went to war with Spain. "Remember the Maine" is a commemorative holiday on Feb. 15 annually.
• Feb. 22, 1732, is the birth date of our nation's first president, George Washington, born in Wakefield, Va. Washington led our patriots against the British to gain our independence and set the stage for our constructing a United States Constitution that led to the forming of a "near perfect Union." Congressional action combined the birthdays of President Washington and President Lincoln to be observed and celebrated on the third Monday of February -- Presidents Day.
• Feb. 21, 1945, is the date United States Marines placed the American Flag on Mount Surabachi, Iwo Jima. The Battle for Iwo Jima lasted only a month but claimed 7,000 lives of our Marines. "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue," Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz said of the Marines following their successful capture of Iwo Jima.
Once again we point out: "heroes are made, not born." Those heroes of February did not know of the challenges they would encounter when born. They reacted in heroic fashion when confronted with their situations later in life.
Ellie
February 13, 2009
"Isn't it strange that princes and kings,
"And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
"And common people like you and me,
"Are builders of eternity?
"Each is given a shapeless mass,
"A bag of tools and a set of rules,
"And each must make 'ere life is flown,
"A stumbling block or a stepping stone."
-- R.L Sharpe,
"A Bag of Tools"
The month of February recognizes many citizens for their achievements and contributions to the building of our great nation. We are a great nation of great people. However we must always remember we are not great people because of a great nation, but we are a great nation because of great people. Many of our citizens are cited for building stepping stones for future generations to follow.
• On Feb, 3, 1943, the United States troop ship Dorchester was torpedoed and sunk in the mid-Atlantic. Four chaplains of different religious faiths were serving aboard the ship. They voluntarily gave their life jackets to four soldiers so they could survive. Their heroism prompted President Gerald Ford to create "International Clergy Week" in commemoration of their heroic act. Congress awarded posthumously Distinguished Service Awards to the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chaplains: George Fox of Vermont, Clark Polling of New York, John Washington of New Jersey and Alexander Goede of Pennsylvania.
• Feb, 7, 1984, will always be remembered as the date President Ronald Reagan ordered the withdrawal of Marines from the airport at Beirut to a U.S. Navy ship on the coast of Lebanon.
• Feb. 12, 1809, is the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and is credited with saving our union of states.
• Feb. 15, 1898, is the date the U.S. Battleship Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor. Taps had been sounded. Crew members were bunked. Capt. Charles Sigsbee was in his cabin. At 9:40 p.m. there was a huge explosion and a large column of flame rose from the ship. Lights went out. The ship began to sink. Of the men aboard, 288 died. Cause was determined to be a mine. On April 18 we went to war with Spain. "Remember the Maine" is a commemorative holiday on Feb. 15 annually.
• Feb. 22, 1732, is the birth date of our nation's first president, George Washington, born in Wakefield, Va. Washington led our patriots against the British to gain our independence and set the stage for our constructing a United States Constitution that led to the forming of a "near perfect Union." Congressional action combined the birthdays of President Washington and President Lincoln to be observed and celebrated on the third Monday of February -- Presidents Day.
• Feb. 21, 1945, is the date United States Marines placed the American Flag on Mount Surabachi, Iwo Jima. The Battle for Iwo Jima lasted only a month but claimed 7,000 lives of our Marines. "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue," Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz said of the Marines following their successful capture of Iwo Jima.
Once again we point out: "heroes are made, not born." Those heroes of February did not know of the challenges they would encounter when born. They reacted in heroic fashion when confronted with their situations later in life.
Ellie