Annual Memorial Rememberances

President William McKinley

On the 29th of January, we remember Pres. William McKinley’s birthday. He was born in 1843. He reluctantly led the USA into war with Spain and served as President of the USA until he was assassinated in September of 1901. Peace be to his ashes and honor be to his memory!

Anniversary of the Sinking of the USS Maine

Regardless of how it came about, it was a tragic event on 15 February 1898 when the USS Maine suffered a major explosion and sank in Havana harbor. There were 261 casualties and an additional 16 of the 94 survivors were wounded. The sinking was the catalyst for bringing about the War with Spain which was declared in April. Please look below to see three related photos (two old postcards, left and right showing USS Maine and its anchor). REMEMBER THE MAINE!

April Historic Events

DECLARATION OF WAR WITH SPAIN 

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, First.  That war be, and the same is hereby, declared to exist, and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, A. D. 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain.” 

Second.  “That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several States to such extent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect. “

Approved, April 25, 1898.  April 27: “AMERICA DAY” [No longer observed nationally or by any heritage organizations.]

Manila Day

May 1st

Commemorating the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. Lithograph to the right was done by Fred S. Cozzens and features Dewey’s flagship, the USS Olympia.

Memorial Day

May 31st

With our fellow Americans, we pause on this day to remember the service and sacrifice of all men and women who have honorably served this country since its very beginning. We especially lift up the veterans of the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition….Peace be to their ashes and honor be to their memory!

 

Flag Day 

Celebrated on June 14th in honor of the adoption of the flag.

 

Santiago Day

July 3rd

The Battle of Santiago de Cuba was fought between Spain and the United States on July 3, 1898.  It was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in both the destruction of the Spanish Navy’s Caribbean Squadron and the ultimate freedom of Cuba from Spanish rule.

Paris Peace Protocol Anniversary

August 12th

The Anniversary of the Armistice ending the Spanish American War.

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, President Theodore Roosevelt! – 

Born October 27, 1858

 

Veterans Day November 11th

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday observed annually on November 11, honoring military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.