History lessons is a grouping of historical stories and tidbits. The topics range from the American Civil War through interesting items from around the world. Please use the comments area to ask questions and make suggestions for future topics.
Ninety-five years ago, President Woodrow Wilson encouraged people to mark Armistice Day by pausing briefly at 11 a.m. on November 11, the date on which World War I ended. The observance would evolve into a national holiday full of American flags. “The reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism… continue
Raising the American flag is a common activity for presidents, including Abraham Lincoln. But he had to skip one such occasion, even though he had promised to be there. It happened less than a year after his inauguration in March 1861. Six months later, after the first battles of the War Between the States had… continue
This year’s World Series will sport many flags – American flags and red-white-and-blue bunting, of course, but also the pennants and banners of baseball teams. Just in time for the fall classic, a lost film has surfaced from 90 years ago, and it shows a prominent Old Glory. The silent movie is the only known… continue
Last month, the anniversary of 9/11 was marked throughout the U.S. with prayers, speeches, memorials – and nearly 3,000 American flags planted on a sloping campus lawn in California. Pepperdine University in Malibu first installed the emotional display in 2007 after a student suggested the idea of honoring an alumnus who had died on Flight… continue
The odds are in your favor that the State of Nevada, home of gambling, will change its official flag. After all, it has done so repeatedly. When President Lincoln signed the document accepting the state into the Union 150 years ago, Nevadans came in waving nothing. As noted on its website, “the Legislature did not… continue