Allies Win Battle of Midway
On June 7, 1942, the Allies won the Battle of Midway in the Pacific, turning the tide of the war. It’s been called “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare.”
Navy
Allies Storm Normandy On D-Day
On June 6, 1944, some 155,000 Allied troops stormed the shores of Normandy on D-Day, the start of Operation Overlord.
Dedication of Lincoln Memorial
On May 30, 1922, William Howard Taft dedicated the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The memorial houses the massive 19-foot seated Lincoln statue
First Armed Forces Day
On May 20, 1950, the US first celebrated Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May, near the end of Armed Forces Week.
Distinguished Servicemen Series
On May 3, 2000, the USPS issued the first stamps in the Distinguished Servicemen Series. These stamps were intended as a tribute to all servicemen, not just the soldiers they pictured.
Happy Birthday Duke Ellington
Jazz legend Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, DC. Better known as Duke Ellington, he was considered one of the most influential jazz composers.
Doolittle Raid
On April 18, 1942, Jimmy Doolittle led a daring raid against the Japanese in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Birth of Matthew C. Perry
The “Father of the Steam Navy” Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was born on April 10, 1794, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Perry is best known for modernizing the US Naval Academy and opening friendly relations with Japan.
Happy Birthday César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona. He created the National Farm Workers Association, implementing nonviolent protests to fight for better pay and conditions.