Today in American History…George H.W. Bush, our 41st President was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, MA.

In other official roles prior to his Presidency, President Bush also served:

– in the U.S. House of Representatives (Texas, 7th District)

– as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

– Chairman of the Republican National Commitee

– Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

and as our 43rd U.S. Vice President under President Ronald Reagan

Today on June 5, 1968. A sad day in our Nation’s history. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He passed away the next day on June 6, 1968.

Today in American history…Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, New York on May 31, 1819. Not only was he a famous poet, essayist and journalist but he was also a volunteer nurse for three years during the American Civil War.

One of my favorite quotes of Walt Whitman is, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and we decided to spend a few moments in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia, to pay our honor and respect for those who paid the ultimate price for our beloved country. The soldiers buried here are Confederate soldiers who fought in the battles in Winchester and are laid to rest in what is known as Stonewall Cemetary.

The Confederate cemetery was dedicated in 1866 and Stonewall Cemetery is the last resting place for the bodies of 2,576 Confederate soldiers who died in the fields and hospitals in Winchester. It was impressive to see the beautiful monuments erected to to the States and solemn to see the graves directly around them.

We also learned something new today. General George Patton’s grandfather, George S Patton, Sr. died in the Third battle of Winchester and is buried in Stonewall Cemetery.

We hope that you are doing something – even if it is just a moment of silence – to remember what Memorial Day is all about. Thank you to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our lives, the lives of our children and grandchildren. For our freedom. God bless the United States of America always and forever 🇺🇸

A drive through Stonewall Cemetery located in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. The resting place of 2,576 Confederate soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice in the three battles of Winchester.

Today in American History…Martha Washington passed away at Mount Vernon on May 22, 1802. Mrs Washington once said, “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”

(Obituary courtesy of The Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Photo of Mrs Washington info: Credit: Mark Gulezian/NPG

Copyright: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA)

Today in American History…the landmark and historic Supreme Court case, Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka was decided in 1954. This historic decision made racial segregation in public educational facilities unconstitutional. It was a huge victory for the Civil Rights movement.

Today in American history…the US Senate acquit President Andrew Johnson of one of the crimes of high crimes and misdemeanors. He was charged with 11 articles of impeachment – all due to his staunch disagreement to the handling of the reconstruction of our country after the Civil War. There was then a ten day recess before the attempt to convict him on the additional articles. The delay did not change the outcome of the charges. On May 26, 1868, the Senate did not convict the president on two articles, both by the same margin, after which the trial was adjourned and did not consider the remaining eight articles of impeachment.

President Johnson was the very first President to be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors. The others would be in recent history: Richard Nixon (resigned), William J. Clinton and most recently President Donald Trump. (Photo Credit: Harpers Weekly, Theodore R. Davis’ sketch of the Senate impeachment process

Today in American history…Kate Smith was born on May 1, 1907 🇺🇸

Here is Kate Smith performing ‘God Bless America’ for the very first time

Today in American history…President James Monroe was born in 1758 in Monroe Hall, Virginia. He had served in several high positions prior to becoming our 5th US President including being Secretary of War, Secretary of State and as the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.