One of the most famous characters in French literature is the Man in the Iron Mask. Voltaire first broached the story of the older illegitimate brother of Louis XIV (the product of a liaison between Queen Anne and Cardinal Read more
The first mention of the Amazons is by Homer in “The Iliad”. He refers to them as the Androktones (“killers of men”). Homer says they were fighting on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War. The warriors were Read more
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first battle of the Vietnam War for America. It took place on Nov. 14-15, 1965. The movie “We Were Soldiers” depicts the battle. Bruce Crandall Read more
The USS William D. Porter was a destroyer commissioned on July 6, 1943 with a crew of rookies commanded by Lt. Commander Wilfred Walter. Little did they know, they would attempt to assassinate the President. In November, 1943, the Read more
Here’s an excellent video for Bruce Springsteen’s song about the Wall, which opened to the public on Nov. 13, 1982. Videos can be interesting additions to lessons.
When I was in elementary school, I can remember my teacher telling a story about the young Christopher Columbus watching a ship leave the harbor. He noticed that as it got further away it disappeared, but with its sails Read more
Frederick the Great once visited a prison. At each cell, the inmate invariably proclaimed their innocence. Finally, he reached a cell where the convict remained quietly seated on his bed. Frederick looked in and said: “And what crime are Read more
In 1828, Andrew Jackson was running for President. His opponents called him a “stubborn jackass”. Jackson liked the description and put a donkey on his campaign posters. The Democrats decided to adopt the donkey as their symbol. They put Read more
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but his side lost. A Read more