By Bethanie Richards, Museum Attendant
December
December is heralded by many as a month to celebrate! Whether you are lighting a menorah for Hanukkah, singing carols for Christmas, enjoying a karamu feast for Kwanzaa, or welcoming the winter solstice with open arms, there is an abundance of festivities to participate in and enjoy.
However, historically, December has not always been as bright as it is today. It has a checkered past filled with innovation, devastation, and celebration. As we enjoy our cookies and loved ones this year, let us look to the past with grateful hearts for those who have come before us!
To read the rest of this article, click here!
**Include the rest of the passage in a blog post that is linked in the newsletter**
The Wright Time to Fly
December 17, 1903, was certainly a day to remember. It is celebrated as the anniversary of the first powered flight and is referred to as Wright Brothers Day. The brothers set out to fly this momentous day and achieved just that. Orville Wright took flight and covered 120 feet in 12 seconds during that first attempt of the day. The brothers made four flights total on December 17th, each one slightly longer than the previous. By the fourth flight of the day, Flyer 1 was wrecked beyond future use. The brothers took the remains home to Ohio where they mended the aircraft, and it went on to be displayed at museums. The work that these beloved men did has forever impacted how we experience transportation, culture, and war. These two unsuspecting men did something extraordinary with a huge dream, unwavering dedication, and loyalty to one another. In the spirit of the anniversary of flight, may you dream big and be inspired by two men who came together to forever alter how we experience the world!
Learning from the Past
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy Air Service launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack led to the death of 2,403 people, the destruction of 188
aircraft, and the sinking of 2 US Navy battleships. Nearly half of those who lost their lives were crewmen from the battleship USS Arizona. The ship sunk within minutes of ordinance hitting its forward magazine, setting ablaze more than a million pounds of ammunition. The ship and its remains still lay in those waters for onlookers to observe and remember that fateful day. This attack was the catalyst that influenced the US military to join World War II. The United States and Japan are friends today, but it can go without saying: there were lessons learned and legacies left from this day in history that will live on for many years to come.
Steps Towards a More United States
On December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified by the final state in the United States, Georgia. Although imperfect, the intention of this amendment was to abolish slavery. It freed many; however, it did not grant them citizenship nor the right to vote. In addition, slavery was still legal as punishment for a crime. It seems appropriate that the resurfacing of the Civil Rights Movement almost a full century later would also take place in December on December 1, 1955. This day is deemed the birth of the modern-day Civil Rights Movement due to the bravery shown by Rosa Parks, as she refused to give up her seat at the front of the bus. Ms. Parks’ courageous act was one of several impactful demonstrations that led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and thousands more joining together across the nation to stand up for equal rights for all. A truly more United States!
Check in next month to remember the historical happenings of January!
