Lafayette Arrives in America
On June 13, 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in America to offer his services in the Revolutionary War. He would become like a son to George Washington and was soon known as “the hero of two worlds.”
Military
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Birth of George H.W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts. As America’s 41st president, he led the US through conflicts in Panama and Iraq, helped bring about the end of the Soviet Union, and negotiated treaties to reduce the number of global nuclear weapons. At home, Bush fought against rising drug use and cracked down on the drug trade.
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Birth of Sylvanus Thayer
“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.
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The First Memorial Day
On May 30, 1868, the first Memorial Day, then called Decoration Day, was held in the United States. It’s grown to become a federal holiday dedicated to remembering the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers.
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Birth of Bob Hope
Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope was born on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, London, England. Hope was the most honored entertainer in history, but his greatest legacy was the gift of laughter he brought to millions of American service men and women stationed far from home.
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“Remember Ellsworth”
On May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln, became the first Union officer to die in the Civil War. “Remember Ellsworth” soon became a popular rallying cry for the Union.
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Birth of Yogi Berra
Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra was born on May 12, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is widely considered to be one of baseball’s greatest catchers and best clutch hitters of all time.
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The Military Postal Express Service
On May 9, 1918, the US War Department created the Military Postal Express Service (MPES) to handle military mail in Europe during World War I. It was the first postal system in the world to be created by an Army.
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Birth of Naval Aviation
On May 8, 1911, the US Navy purchased its first airplane. This date is celebrated as the birth of US naval aviation.
