On June 17, 1775, American colonists inflicted heavy British casualties in their loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Showing that the inexperienced colonial militias could stand up against the well-trained British, It raised morale and increased support for independence.
On June 16, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt signed legislation passing the National Industrial Recovery Act. It was a bold and ambitious attempt to fix a broken economy during one of the hardest times in American history.
On June 15, 1864, Arlington National Cemetery was officially established. It has since become the final resting place for over 420,000 military servicemen and women.
On June 14, 1777, Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States. Over time, this date became known as Flag Day, with it becoming an official national event in 1949.
On June 13, 2002, the USPS issued the final sheet in the Classic Collection Series. The popular series ran for 6 years and included 11 stamp sheets, including one of the most famous stamp errors of modern history.
On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the Constitution, making it America’s eighth state.
On April 28, 1948, Fort Sumter National Monument was established to preserve the site where the opening shots of the Civil War were fired. Twelve years later, nearby Fort Moultrie was added to the protected area. Together, they honor and preserve generations of American seacoast defense from the American Revolution to World War II.
On April 4, 1925, the US Post Office issued the first three stamps in a multi-year series honoring important events and people from the American Revolution. The stamps were issued for the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the Revolution.
On April 3, 1783, the US signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Sweden, the first such treaty between the US and a country that wasn’t an ally in the Revolutionary War.
On June 17, 1898, the prized Trans-Mississippi stamps were issued as part of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, Nebraska.
Journalist and writer John Hersey was born on June 17, 1914, in Tientsin, China. He accompanied the Army on several operations in World War II and is best remembered for his collection of stories from survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima.
James Weldon Johnson was born on June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida. A poet, songwriter, diplomat, and activist, he was the first African American executive secretary of the NAACP.
Composer Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882 (or June 5 in the Old Style), in Oranienbaum, Russia (present-day Lomonosov). He is considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.
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