Founding the VFW
On September 29, 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was founded in Columbus, Ohio. It’s grown to become the largest organization for combat veterans in the United States.
This Day in History
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Siege Of Yorktown Begins
On September 28, 1781, American forces launched the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War – the Siege of Yorktown. This decisive clash would lead to the surrender of British General Cornwallis and pave the way for American independence.
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Mexico Gains Independence from Spain
After more than a decade of brutal fighting and over 20,000 casualties, Mexico officially gained its independence from Spain on September 27, 1821. This moment marked the end of three centuries of Spanish rule. The road to independence, however, was long, complicated, and filled with both triumphs and setbacks.
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Death of Daniel Boone
On September 26, 1820, famed American pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone died in St. Charles County, Missouri. Boone was a legendary American frontiersman and explorer whose daring adventures helped open the wilderness of Kentucky to early settlers.
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The Little Rock Nine Enter High School Under Federal Protection
After being initially denied entrance to their school, the Little Rock Nine were escorted in by federal troops on September 25, 1957 — a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and a dramatic test of federal authority over states.
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Devils Tower Becomes First American National Monument
On September 24, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt took a historic step in the protection of America’s natural and cultural treasures when he proclaimed Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming as the first United States National Monument. This designation, made under the brand-new Antiquities Act of 1906, marked the beginning of a tradition of preserving special landscapes for future generations — a legacy that continues today in more than a hundred national monuments across the country.
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John Paul Jones’s Victory at Flamborough Head
On September 23, 1779, one of the most famous naval battles of the American Revolution took place in the cold waters off the coast of England. It was here that John Paul Jones, a daring and determined naval commander, led his small squadron of American ships against a powerful British convoy. The Battle of Flamborough Head would not only be a dramatic moment in the war but would also help cement Jones’s reputation as one of the boldest naval commanders in history.
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Death of Irving Berlin
On September 22, 1989, legendary composer Irving Berlin died in New York City at the age of 101. A year earlier, he was just the second living person to be honored on a US stamp!
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“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”
On September 21, 1897, The Sun, a New York City newspaper, published what would become one of the most famous editorials ever written. It was titled simply, “Is There a Santa Claus?” but is better known today as “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.” The editorial was written in response to a letter from an eight-year-old girl named Virginia O’Hanlon, whose simple question sparked an answer that has inspired generations.
