Today's American Minute
Sir Robert Baden Powell and the Boy Scouts - American Minute with Bill Federer
Boy Scouts' decline has paralleled its departure from Sir Robert Baden-Powell original vision, as expressed in his pamphlet Scouting for Boys, 1908: "We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life."
Smallpox during the Revolution and Dr. Benjamin Rush - American Minute with Bill Federer
"Smallpox is ten times more terrible!" -Diseases during the Revolution Dr. Benjamin Rush - American Minute with Bill Federer
On December 15, 1775, Washington wrote to Joseph Reed: "... smallpox is in every part of Boston ... a surety against any attempt of ours to attack. If we escape the smallpox in this camp ... it will be miraculous. Every precaution that can be is taken to guard against this evil."
Battle of Princeton: "Washington advanced so near the enemy's lines that his horse refused to go further" - American Minute with Bill Federer
Sculptor Clark Mills stated the statue's dedication, 1860: "At the Battle of Princeton where Washington, after several ineffectual attempts to rally his troops, advanced so near the enemy's lines that his horse refused to go further ... But while his noble horse is represented thus terror stricken, the dauntless hero is calm and dignified, ever believing himself the instrument in the hand of Providence to work out the great problem of liberty."
Women of the Revolutionary War: "As there were Fathers in our Republic so there were Mothers"-Coolidge - American Minute with Bill Federer
President Coolidge to the Daughters of the American Revolution, April 19, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge: "The importance of women in the working out the destiny of mankind ... As there were fathers in our Republic so there were mothers ... By their abiding faith they inspired and encouraged the men; by their sacrifice they performed their part in the struggle out of which came our country."
How did January 1st become New Year's Day? and How is it connected to Leap Day?
As Rome expanded, it was difficult to sync the different calendars of conquered countries. Julius Caesar instituted one unified calendar, based on the Earth's orbit around the sun, 365 days, and a "leap" day every 4th year. Called the Julian Calendar, it was instituted January 1, 45 B.C.