This Day In History

On June 8, 1997, the ninth US stamp show came to an end. Pacific ’97 was the first IPEX (International Philatelic Exhibition) held on the West Coast.

On June 7, 2002, the USPS issued the Heroes of 2001 Semipostal stamp to honor emergency workers who responded to the September 11 attacks. The stamp turned ordinary mail into a small act of support for families who had lost loved ones or whose loved ones had been permanently disabled in the line of duty.

On June 6, 1955, the US Post Office issued its first and only Certified Mail Stamp, US #FA1. The stamp gave mail special protection and provided the sender with proof of delivery.

On June 5, 1883, the Orient Express made its first trip from Paris to Vienna. It quickly earned a reputation as the world’s most luxurious train.

On May 13, 1914, Joe Louis Barrow was born near Lafayette, Alabama. He would become Joe Louis, the “Brown Bomber,” a heavyweight champion whose calm power in the ring carried meaning far beyond boxing.

The first-ever Boson Marathon was run on April 19, 1897. It’s the world’s oldest annual marathon and is one of the six World Marathon Majors. While the first race included 15 runners, recent races have seen over 30,000 participants.

On April 6, 1896, the first Olympic Games in 1,500 years began in Athens, Greece. Revived from ancient tradition, the modern Olympics brought nations together in a new era of international competition and athletic pride.

On February 13, 1988, the Winter Olympics opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were the first Winter Olympics held in Canada and a record number of nations participated for the time.

On June 9, 1534, Jacques Cartier became the first European explorer to travel the St. Lawrence River.

American composer and songwriter Cole Albert Porter was born on June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana. He wrote over 800 songs in his career, including standards that became hits for multiple singers.

On June 9, 1978, Canada opened its second international stamp exhibition, CAPEX ’78 (CAnadian Philatelic EXhibition). The show marked the first time the US issued a souvenir sheet outside of the country.

“The Father of West Point,” Sylvanus Thayer was born on June 9, 1785, in Braintree, Massachusetts.  During his 16 years as superintendent, Thayer transformed West Point into one of the finest military academies in the world.