Sam Harless

On This Day In History:

1637 - Pequot massacres begin

During the Pequot War, an allied Puritan and Mohegan force under English Captain John Mason attacks a Pequot village in Connecticut, burning or massacring some 500 Native American women, men and children.

As the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay spread further into Connecticut, they came into increasing conflict with the Pequots, a tribe centered on the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut. By the spring of 1637, 13 English colonists and traders had been killed by the Pequot, and Massachusetts Bay Governor John Endecott organized a large military force to punish the local tribe. On April 23, 200 Pequot warriors responded defiantly to the colonial mobilization by attacking a Connecticut settlement, killing six men and three women and taking two girls away.

1868 - President Johnson acquitted in Senate impeachment trial

At the end of a historic two-month trial, the U.S. Senate narrowly fails to convict President Andrew Johnson of the impeachment charges levied against him by the House of Representatives three months earlier. The senators voted 35 guilty and 19 not guilty on the second article of impeachment, a charge related to his violation of the Tenure of Office Act in the previous year. Ten days earlier, the Senate had likewise failed to convict Johnson on another article of impeachment, the 11th, voting an identical 35 for conviction and 19 for acquittal. Because both votes fell short–by one vote–of the two-thirds majority needed to convict Johnson, he was judged not guilty and remained in office.

At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Johnson, a U.S. senator from Tennessee, was the only senator from a seceding state who remained loyal to the Union. Johnson’s political career was built on his defense of the interests of poor white Southerners against the landed classes; of his decision to oppose secession, he said, “Damn the negroes; I am fighting those traitorous aristocrats, their masters.” For his loyalty, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee in 1862, and in 1864 Johnson was elected vice president of the United States.

1907 - John Wayne is born

John Wayne, an actor who came to epitomize the American West, is born in Winterset, Iowa.

Born Marion Robert Morrison, Wayne’s family moved to Glendale, California, when he was six years old. As a teen, he rose at four in the morning to deliver newspapers, and after school he played football and made deliveries for local stores. When he graduated from high school, he hoped to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. However, after the school rejected him, he accepted a full scholarship to play football at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

In the summer of 1926, Wayne’s football coach found him a job as an assistant prop man on the set of a movie directed by John Ford. Ford started to use Wayne as an extra, and he eventually began to trust him with some larger roles. In 1930, Ford recommended Wayne for Fox’s epic Western The Big Trail. Wayne won the part, but the movie did poorly, and Fox let his contract lapse.

1927 - Last day of Model T production at Ford

On May 26, 1927, Henry Ford and his son Edsel drive the 15 millionth Model T Ford out of their factory, marking the famous automobile’s official last day of production.

More than any other vehicle, the relatively affordable and efficient Model T was responsible for accelerating the automobile’s introduction into American society during the first quarter of the 20th century. Introduced in October 1908, the Model T—also known as the “Tin Lizzie”—weighed some 1,200 pounds, with a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. It got about 13 to 21 miles per gallon of gasoline and could travel up to 45 mph. Initially selling for around $850 (around $20,000 in today’s dollars), the Model T would later sell for as little as $260 (around $6,000 today) for the basic no-extras model.

1960 - United States charges Soviets with espionage

During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge charges that the Soviet Union has engaged in espionage activities at the U.S. embassy in Moscow for years. The charges were obviously an attempt by the United States to deflect Soviet criticisms following the downing of an American U-2 spy plane over Russia earlier in the month.

On May 1, 1960, a highly sophisticated (and supposedly invulnerable) U.S. spy plane, the U-2, was shot down over the Soviet Union. Although U.S. officials at first denied the existence of any such spy planes, the Soviets gleefully produced both the wreckage of the plane and its pilot, Francis Gary Powers. Embarrassed U.S. officials, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower, were forced to publicly admit that the United States was indeed spying on the Soviet Union with the high altitude planes. However, the U.S. government consistently declared that it was doing nothing that the Soviets themselves were not doing. As evidence of that charge, Henry Cabot Lodge brought the issue before the U.N. Security Council. There, he produced a wooden reproduction of the Great Seal of the United States. Nestled inside was a small listening and transmitting device. Lodge claimed that the seal had been presented to the U.S. embassy in Moscow in 1945 by a group of Russian citizens. In 1952, a security sweep of the embassy discovered the listening device. Lodge went on to note that more than 100 other such devices had been found in the U.S. embassies in Russia and other communist-bloc countries during the last few years. The Soviet representative on the Security Council chuckled often during Lodge’s presentation and then asked, “From what plays were these props taken and when will it open?”

1972 - SALT agreements signed

On May 26, 1972, Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev and U.S. President Richard Nixon, meeting in Moscow, sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreements. At the time, these agreements were the most far-reaching attempts to control nuclear weapons ever.

Nixon and Brezhnev seemed unlikely candidates for the American and Soviet statesmen who would sign a groundbreaking arms limitation treaty. Both men carried reputations as hard-line Cold War warriors. Yet, by 1972, both leaders were eager for closer diplomatic relations between their respective nations. The Soviet Union was engaged in an increasingly hostile war of words with communist China; border disputes between the two nations had erupted in the past few years. The United States was looking for help in extricating itself from the unpopular and costly war in Vietnam. Nixon, in particular, wished to take the American public’s mind off the fact that during nearly four years as president, he had failed to bring an end to the conflict. The May 1972 summit meeting between Nixon and Brezhnev was an opportune moment to pursue the closer relations each desired.

(Summarized From History.com)

On The National Day Calendar - What Is Today?

NATIONAL PAPER AIRPLANE DAY

On May 26th each year, National Paper Airplane Day honors the simple aeronautical toy that has been around for thousands of years.



National Paper Airplane Day provides an excuse to play! This inexpensive, healthy, and stimulating form of entertainment brings lots of joy, too. In other words, put down your smartphones and get outside for some primitive fun!

Did you know?

Many believe the use of paper airplanes originated 2,000 years ago in China.

The earliest known date of the creation of modern paper planes was said to have been 1909.

The largest paper aircraft had a wingspan of 59.74 ft. Students and employees from Germany created it on 28th September 2013.

Joe Ayoob recorded the longest distance flown by a paper airplane in February 2012. His plane flew 226 feet, 10 inches.

The longest-lasting paper airplane flight flew 29.2 seconds.

There is more than one way to fold paper for a test flight. Find tips for designs at www.foldnfly.com.

NATIONAL BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE DAY

On May 26th, two of the calendar's favorite foods come together on National Blueberry Cheesecake Day. We've scattered blueberries and cheesecakes throughout these pages in scrumptious celebration. But one day a year they join forces in perfect, delicious harmony.



History of Blueberries and Cream Cheese

There was a time when people only gathered blueberries from the wild. It wasn't until the early 1900s through the observations of Elizabeth Coleman White and the research of Dr. Frederick V. Coville that successful transplanting and domestication of the blueberry became possible. It wasn't long after that commercial production of the blueberry began.

Combine the history of the blueberry with the development of cream cheese, some might consider the blueberry cheesecake to be a truly American dessert. While recipes for cheesecake served athletes in ancient Greece, cream cheese has been a part of American's dessert making since about the 1820s. However, after the advent of pasteurization, mass production became possible. One dairy farmer from Chester, New York, decided to be the first. William A. Lawrence purchased a Neufchatel factory to begin his production and in 1873 the first mass-produced cream cheese became a reality.

Types of Cheesecakes

Either way, this smooth dessert hits the spot when dessert time rolls around. While most cakes have a crumb, cheesecake's texture is nothing like cake. Indeed, its creamy, thick pudding-like character comes from the soft cheese used as the main ingredient. Depending on the recipe, bakers use either cream cheese or cottage cheese. When the cheese is mixed with sugar, eggs, and other ingredients, the batter is added to a crust. Either add the blueberries now or save them for a beautifully fresh and vibrant topping.

When making cheesecake, one of the most common crusts used is a graham cracker crust. Other options include a cookie crust, pastry or sponge cake. However, some cheesecakes are crustless. Depending on the recipe, cheesecakes may be prepared baked or unbaked.

Today is Election Day. If you have not voted, then today is your last chance to use your vote in picking representation in local, state, and federal positions. Only those of us who vote will have that say, the rest are spectators on the sidelines. Don't let someone else have the say. Get out and vote.

On This Day In History:

1660 - Charles II returns to England to claim his throne

May 25, 1660: Under invitation by leaders of the English Commonwealth, Charles II, the exiled king of England, sets sail for Dover, England, to assume the throne and end 11 years of military rule.

Prince of Wales at the time of the English Civil War, Charles fled to France after Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians defeated King Charles I’s Royalists in 1646. In 1649, Charles vainly attempted to save his father’s life by presenting Parliament a signed blank sheet of paper, thereby granting whatever terms were required. However, Oliver Cromwell was determined to execute Charles I, and on January 30, 1649, the king was beheaded in London.

1935 - Babe Ruth hits last home run

On May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Babe Ruth hits his 714th home run, a record for career home runs that would stand for almost 40 years. This was one of Ruth’s last games, and the last home run of his career. Ruth went four for four on the day, hitting three home runs and driving in six runs.

George Herman Ruth was born February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children, but only he and a sister survived infancy. Ruth’s father was a saloon keeper on Baltimore’s waterfront, and the young George, known as “Gig” (pronounced with soft g’s) to his family, caused trouble from an early age. At seven, his truancy from school led his parents to declare him incorrigible, and he was sent to an orphanage, St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. Ruth lived there until he was 19 in 1914, when he was signed as a pitcher by the Baltimore Orioles.

1977 - “Star Wars” opens in theaters

On May 25, 1977, Memorial Day weekend opens with an intergalactic bang as the first of George Lucas’ blockbuster Star Wars movies hits American theaters.

The incredible success of Star Wars–it received seven Oscars, and earned $461 million in U.S. ticket sales and a gross of close to $800 million worldwide–began with an extensive, coordinated marketing push by Lucas and his studio, 20th Century Fox, months before the movie’s release date. “It wasn’t like a movie opening,” actress Carrie Fisher, who played rebel leader Princess Leia, later told Time magazine. “It was like an earthquake.” Beginning with–in Fisher’s words–“a new order of geeks, enthusiastic young people with sleeping bags,” the anticipation of a revolutionary movie-watching experience spread like wildfire, causing long lines in front of movie theaters across the country and around the world.

1979 - 6-year-old Etan Patz—boy on milk carton—goes missing

On the morning of May 25, 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz walked the two blocks from his home to his bus stop in Manhattan. It was his first time walking there alone before school, and the last day his parents would ever see him. That’s because someone abducted Etan during that walk. In his parents’ effort to find him, Etan became among the first missing children to be featured on milk cartons.

Julie and Stanley Patz didn’t realize her son was missing until later that day, when he didn’t come home from the Independence Plaza School. They soon learned he hadn’t been in his first grade class that day or even made the bus that morning, and called the police. Etan’s disappearance led to nationwide search that wasn’t resolved until 2017, when Pedro Hernandez was convicted of abducting and killing him.

1994 - Pennsylvania man buried with his beloved Corvette

On May 25, 1994, the ashes of 71-year-old George Swanson are buried (according to Swanson’s request) in the driver’s seat of his 1984 white Corvette in Irwin, Pennsylvania.

Swanson, a beer distributor and former U.S. Army sergeant during World War II, died the previous March 31 at the age of 71. He had reportedly been planning his automobile burial for some time, buying 12 burial plots at Brush Creek Cemetery, located 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, in order to ensure that his beloved Corvette would fit in his grave with him. After his death, however, the cemetery balked, amid concerns of vandalism and worries that other clients would be offended by the outlandish nature of the burial. They finally relented after weeks of negotiations, but insisted that the burial be private, and that the car be drained of fluids to protect the environment. “George wanted to go out in style, and, indeed, now he will,” commented Swanson’s lawyer in a report from The Associated Press. “We agree that this is rather elaborate, but really it’s no different than being buried in a diamond-studded or gold coffin.”

(Summarized From History.com

On The National Day Calendar - What Is Today?

MEMORIAL DAY

Each year in the United States, Americans observe the Federal holiday, Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. It honors and remembers all men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.



Traditionally on Memorial Day, the flag of the United States of America is raised briskly to the top of the staff then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position where it remains until noon. At noon, it is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

When the flag is at half-staff, the position is in remembrance of the more than one million men and women who gave their lives for their country. Raising the flag at noon signifies the nation lives, that the country is resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise up in their honor and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all.

In the United States, Memorial Day also traditionally marks the beginning of summer.

NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY | May 25

National Missing Children's Day on May 25th each year shines a spotlight on child safety. The day also honors the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly protecting children around the country.



Most children who go missing do come home. Whether they've wandered off or there was a misunderstanding, many find their way back to their family.

According to the Polly Klaas Foundation, 99.8 percent of children reported missing come home. Of those who are abducted, 9 percent are kidnapped by a family member. Only a small fraction are stranger abductions. However, the fact remains, if it happens to one child, that's one child too many.

NATIONAL WINE DAY

On May 25 each year, wine lovers everywhere pour a glass of their favorite wine to celebrate National Wine Day. Whether it is red wine, white wine, or a blush, the sound of glassing "clinking" will be heard around the world today.



Made from fermented grapes or other fruits, wine is an alcoholic beverage that is loved by millions around the world. Luckily, National Day Calendar presents opportunity to taste and learn about the differences between wine throughout the year.

People love wine for a variety of reasons. Different wines have unique flavors from fruity and sweet to complex and earthy. There is a story about the regions and vintages wine comes from, which plays a part in what kind of wine you choose for your celebration.

Wine flavor is influenced by the grape variety, where it is grown and the technique used to make wine. Different grapes produce different flavors, acidity, and aroma. Winemakers will combine different wines to create more complex flavors. Wines made from fruit or honey are often named according to the variety of fruit used.

TOWEL DAY

Towel Day on May 25 commemorates the work of the author Douglas Adams, most known for his series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.



We think we need to note, for those who are unfamiliar with Douglas Adams, what Towel Day and the author have in common. The answer is nothing more than a mention about the purpose of a towel in his The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Even we mere Earthly hitchhikers require towels for many immensely useful purposes. We dry our furry pets and roll towels neatly into coordinated rows. On long trips, they ease the kinks in our necks. Even our tiny humans use them to dry off after taking a swim. Though, perhaps not very effectively. It can also offer shade on a sunny day.

We've found that towels in small forms are effective for sport, too. Golfers and bowlers use them. Add a small towel to a footballer's hip and call it a flag or wave a white one in a battle to surrender.

In an emergency, a towel can stop bleeding or can carry the wounded. It also can cool a fever. Wrap it around you on a cool day. Wash a car or wipe up the oil. A really large towel might suffice for a toga party. However, in reality, it probably wouldn't.

The list of options goes on both here on Earth and beyond in every galaxy. The important lesson of the day is, don't leave home without your towel.

NATIONAL TAP DANCE DAY

On May 25 during National Tap Dance Day, we pay tribute to one of America's original dancing art forms.



Tap dance is a percussive dance dating back to the early 1800s, with a combination of primarily influences of African and Irish heritage.

Incorporating complex rhythmic step combinations, tap dance performers often expressed enormous amounts of character through sound and body movement. From clogging to buck and wing styles, soft-shoe to the sand step, and a little bit of jazz, tap dancing evolved from a stiff Irish jig to the bodily Cakewalk and vocal Ring-shout.

NATIONAL BROWN-BAG-IT DAY

National Brown-Bag-It-Day on May 25 each year recognizes the benefits of packing your lunch for work or school.



Taking your lunch to work or school is an effective way to save money and to ensure you and your family are eating healthy. Brown-bagging-it allows you to make better choices and save money. For every meal you make at home, you can save several dollars a day. This is especially true if you are normally prone to eating out, ordering in from restaurants or eating out of vending machines at work. If you're time is short supply during the day, taking your lunch to work helps you limit your choice to have something unhealthy. Even though we try to control our portions while eating out, we know the serving size just keep getting bigger and bigger. When we brown-bag-it, we maintain that control.

Paper bags are 100% biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable, making them better for the environment. When we reuse the same containers and recycle, we have more control over what is wasted. We also choose where our food is sourced. Besides, paper bags can withstand more pressure or weight than plastic bags.

GEEK PRIDE DAY

Get your geek on! Let your geek flags fly on May 25! Geek Pride Day celebrates all things geeky. It is for those people who appreciate sci-fi, fantasy, board games, video games, comic books, cosplay, anime, steampunk, and zombies, and much more.



Geeks are a diverse bunch with one shared quality, passion. Especially for technology and for those things that are outside of mainstream interests, and that can make them seem eccentric. Geeks are smart, at least if collections of information measure intelligence. Geeks, collect lots of information.

Geeks invent things, too. Famous geeks include Thomas Edison, Steve Wozniak, and Benjamin Franklin. Each one was innovative, eccentric, and passionate about things outside their mainstream society.

Many tech publications and websites promote the bill of rights for geeks.

On This Day In History:

1775 - John Hancock becomes president of Congress

On May 24, 1775, John Hancock is elected president of the Second Continental Congress.

John Hancock is best known for his large signature on the Declaration of Independence, which he jested the British could read without spectacles. He was serving as president of Congress upon the declaration’s adoption on July 4, 1776, and, as such, was the first member of the Congress to sign the historic document.

1844 - Samuel Morse demonstrates the telegraph with the message, “What hath God wrought?”

In a demonstration witnessed by members of Congress, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse dispatches a telegraph message from the U.S. Capitol to Alfred Vail at a railroad station in Baltimore, Maryland. The message—“What Hath God Wrought?”—was telegraphed back to the Capitol a moment later by Vail. The question, taken from the Bible (Numbers 23:23), had been suggested to Morse by Annie Ellworth, the daughter of the commissioner of patents.

Morse, an accomplished painter, learned of a French inventor’s idea of an electric telegraph in 1832 and then spent the next 12 years attempting to perfect a working telegraph instrument. During this period, he composed the Morse code, a set of signals that could represent language in telegraph messages, and convinced Congress to finance a Washington-to-Baltimore telegraph line. On May 24, 1844, he inaugurated the world’s first commercial telegraph line with a message that was fitting given the invention’s future effects on American life.

1935 - MLB holds first night game

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on May 24, 1935 in Major League Baseball’s first-ever night game, played courtesy of recently installed lights at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

The first-ever night game in professional baseball took place May 2, 1930, when a Des Moines, Iowa, team hosted Wichita for a Western League game. The game drew 12,000 people at a time when Des Moines was averaging just 600 fans per game. Evening games soon became popular in the minors: As minor league ball clubs were routinely folding in the midst of the Great Depression, adaptable owners found the innovation a key to staying in business. The major leagues, though, took five years to catch up to their small-town counterparts.

1941 - German battleship, the Bismarck, sinks Britain’s HMS Hood

On May 24, 1941, Germany’s largest battleship, the Bismarck, sinks the pride of the British fleet, HMS Hood.

The Bismarck was the most modern of Germany’s battleships, a prize coveted by other nation’s navies, even while still in the blueprint stage (Hi**er handed over a copy of its blueprints to Joseph Stalin as a concession during the days of the Hi**er-Stalin neutrality pact). The HMS Hood, originally launched in 1918, was Britain’s largest battle cruiser (41,200 tons)-but also capable of achieving the relatively fast speed of 31 knots. The two met in the North Atlantic, northeast of Iceland, where two British cruisers had tracked down the Bismarck. Commanded by Admiral Gunther Lutjens, commander in chief of the German Fleet, the Bismarck sunk the Hood, resulting in the death of 1,500 of its crew; only three Brits survived.

1989 - Lori Ann Auker disappears from a parking lot

Lori Ann Auker, a 19-year-old pet shop worker, disappears from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. After failing to show up for work, her car was found the next day in the parking lot of the Susquehanna Valley Mall where The Pet Place was located. Police had no clues as to what had happened to her when she arrived at the mall that morning.

Robert Auker, Lori Ann’s husband, was the natural suspect; the two were in the midst of a custody fight at the time of her disappearance and he had recently taken out a life insurance policy on her. Still, even after Lori Ann’s body was found with multiple stab wounds two and a half weeks after her disappearance, police did not have enough evidence to charge Robert Auker with the murder.

On May 24, 2022, a gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle walks into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and opens fire on two 4th grade classrooms, killing 19 children and two teachers, and critically wounding 17 others.

2022 - 21 killed in Uvalde, Texas, school shooting

The Uvalde school shooting was the deadliest ever in Texas and the second-worst in American history after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of 20 first graders and six school staff members.

The Uvalde shooter, Salvador Ramos, legally purchased two assault-style rifles within days of turning 18. Just over a week later, on May 24, he began his deadly shooting spree by shooting his grandmother in the head. Incredibly, she survived.

(Summarized From History.com)

On The National Day Calendar - What Is Today?

BROTHER'S DAY | May 24

Brother’s Day on May 24 honors the brothers in our lives. Brothers come in many shapes and sizes and so do their relationships. Whatever yours is, take the time to celebrate your brother on Brother’s Day. Whether we have one or many, brothers hold a special place in our hearts deserving of a day.



Brothers are the men in our lives we count on even when we don’t talk very often. We share memories, and challenges that frequently began with the phrase, “Watch this!” soon followed by a few stitches. Even for those who don’t have one, someone in their life is usually like a brother to them. Brothers from other mothers are found in a best friend, a brother-in-law, or a cousin.

Most brothers mind their own business, yet they are always prepared to step in when necessary. That’s what brothers do. Except for that time they put a toad on your head or gum in your hair. That time doesn't count...unless you thought it was funny and put crickets in their shoes as a payback.

NATIONAL SCAVENGER HUNT DAY

Each year on May 24, National Scavenger Hunt Day sends us off to find random items all in the name of good fun.



American gossip columnist, author, songwriter, and professional hostess Elsa Maxwell (May 24, 1883-November 1, 1963) is credited with the introduction of the scavenger hunt for use as a party game in the modern era.

A scavenger hunt challenges teams to "scavenge" for a list of odd items. As part of the rules, participants are not allowed to buy the objects. Depending on where the hunt takes place, players may have to beg, barter, or even work for them, too. Some scavenger hunts add difficulty to the game by adding riddles describing each item. The team with the most items, or the first to complete the list, wins.

HOW TO OBSERVE SCAVENGER HUNT DAY

Scavenger hunts have become popular at weekend get-togethers, parties, family gatherings, and holidays. Even co-workers put together scavenger hunts to keep the workday interesting. Practice your riddle-making and create a scavenger hunt for family and friends.

If you're looking for a scavenger hunt, download and print the Game Piece Scavenger Hunt we created. It can be played traditionally or at home. You don't even have to have the game pieces to play the game. Print pictures of the required pieces. Add extra clues to the riddles to guide players to where the images will be found.

Use to post your scavenger hunt on social media.

AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN DAY

On May 24, we honor the men and women who have worked behind the scenes making and keeping aviation possible on Aviation Maintenance Technician Day. We also honor Charles Edward Taylor as the man who built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright brothers in the Wright Flyer.



We all know the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright, Kitty Hawk, and the experiment of human flight. But how many of us know the name, Charles Edward Taylor? Taylor came to work for the Wrights in 1902 when the Wright brothers were in the process of researching flight options. At the time, automobile companies couldn't supply an engine both light enough and powerful enough for flight. Enter Edward Taylor.

A machinist by trade, with a metal lathe, drill press, and other hand tools, Taylor built the 12-horsepower engine which would propel the Wright's aeroplane 20 feet above the wind-swept North Carolina beach. The longest flight lasted 59 seconds for a distance of 852 feet. It took Taylor 6 weeks to build the engine, and yet, history books rarely mention the man who helped make the historic December 17, 1903, flight possible.

Beyond First Flight

Being on the cusp of the aeronautics industry, Taylor continued to design aircraft engines for the Wright brothers, as well as teaching them to build their own. When the first airport was established (by the Wrights), he was named the airport manager. Taylor designing and built the engine for the Wright brothers when the brothers were awarded a military contract for the first military plane.

Taylor's adventures continued in 1911 when William Randolph Hearst offered up a cash award to the first pilot to fly across the United States in 30 days or less. Cal Rodgers, a young pilot, accepted the challenge and hired Charles Taylor as his mechanic. Rodgers made it, landing and crashing from New York to Pasadena, with Taylor trailing along in a car.

Charles Taylor continued in the field of aviation maintenance for more than 60 years. Like Taylor, aviation maintenance technicians around the world work in the background, keeping civilian and military aircraft safe. On May 24, we recognize their achievements and humble history.

NATIONAL FAMILY FUN DAY

Today is the Sunday before Memorial Day at National Day Calendar and we are celebrating National Family Fun Day. This National Day is encouraging families to celebrate everywhere to create some family fun during the long weekend and every day!



People across the U.S. use Memorial Weekend as the time to begin summer fun. Families are camping for the first time this season, attending graduations, and having family reunions. National Family Fun Day is your reminder that you don't have to plan a huge event to enjoy today's National Day.

We know that not everyone has opportunity to plan a get away. Some people work, some may not be able to afford a long vacation for their family, and some people are too exhausted to go on a weekend getaway. National Family Fun Day presents a unique opportunity for families to create their own fun and make memories. No matter where they are. Let's celebrate National Family Fun Day and enjoy the day with our family. In fact, we are going to explain how you can have a family fun day close to home.

Why is it important to spend time with family?

Families are busy and it can be difficult to spent time together. Sadly, many get caught up in the daily activities of children, work, and family obligations. Families that spend time together are supportive of one another. When families spend time together they tend to have a greater sense of purpose and feel supportive of one another.

Studies show that healthy family relationships encourage security and love. Spending time with family offers the benefits of forming unbreakable bonds. As a family, we learn to offer support and encourage other family members to excel.

NATIONAL YUCATÁN SHRIMP DAY

National Yucatán Shrimp Day on May 24 celebrates a dish exploding with flavor. Plump, peel-and-eat shrimp are the centerpiece of this food holiday, and the flavors remind diners of the sunny summer evenings.



Shrimp lovers shouldn't miss out on a dish like Yucatan Shrimp. While the Yucatán Peninsula is further south on the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Shrimp recipe hails from the waters along Florida's coast. The garlic, butter, and special sauce ingredients this dish a kick that keeps diners coming back for more. Serving it with crusty bread and white wine or an icy cold beer complete your experience. You can almost imagine the dazzling blue waters of the Gulf and the sea breeze with every bite. And don't forget the large, tender shrimp, too.

If you're palate is excited to try this delicious food holiday, we've got you covered with the simple recipe to make your own!

A healthy food, shrimp, is low in calories and high in omega-3, calcium, iodine, and protein levels. Shrimp is also known to be considered good for the circulatory system. Thankfully this is true because it makes indulging in Yucatan Shrimp a little easier!

NATIONAL ESCARGOT DAY

Each year on May 24, National Escargot Day honors the famous French dish of cooked land snails. While escargot is enjoyed by many, it is an acquired taste. We think you should be adventurous and give it a taste today and let us know whether you liked it or not!



Escargot {es.kar.go} is the French word for snail. Many French restaurants serve the dish as an appetizer. During preparation, Escargot is cooked by removing the land snails from their shells, cooking them with garlic, butter, and wine. Once cooked, the gastropods go back into their shells with the sauce for serving. Because the snails are clumsy to eat, special forks and tongs help improve the dining experience.

Escargot are high in protein and low in fat (without the butter).

The science of growing snails is known as heliciculture. In the United States, more people are raising snails for culinary purposes. Even though escargot still seems exotic to American palates, around the world escargot has long been a popular dish.

NATIONAL WYOMING DAY

On May 24th, National Wyoming Day recognizes The Equality State as the 44th state to join the Union. Not to be mistaken for Wyoming Day celebrated on July 25 in the state of Wyoming, National Wyoming Day presents an additional opportunity to celebrate the lifestyle and wonder of this vast state.



In the vast open country where homesteaders had to rely on one another, man or woman, equality had real meaning, true grit. On July 10, 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state to join the union.

Wyoming territory led the nation and the world in granting women the right to vote. In 1869, the Wyoming territorial legislature passed a bill allowing women the right and the governor signed the bill on December 10, 1869. Twenty years later, Wyoming would approve the first state constitution including women’s suffrage. They would be granted statehood in 1870.

One of Wyoming's most iconic landmarks is where massive towers seem to rise mysteriously out of nowhere. The Devil’s Tower stands starkly against brilliant blue skies or disappears into the fog. Depending on the day or its mood it can do either, or both. Native American legends surrounding the creation of the monolith, but hiking it's trails and seeing it up close makes you wonder how or why did this rock formation happen.

Wyoming retells history. The state thrills and challenges visitors with its spectacular views in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. From Fossil Butte National Monument to Fort Laramie National Historic Site, the Cowboy State, provides beautiful landscapes that are breathtaking. For those with a competitive edge, one of the many rodeos in the state provide opportunities to watch cowboys and cowgirls flex skills in the arena and amaze audiences in the stands. Whether they compete indoors or out, boots, jeans, and hats are recommended.