On this day in history.

[giradman]

Greta Zimmer Friedman Died Today - Famous as Woman Kissed in Times Square on V-J Day!

Not much else to say - one of the most iconic photos from the 20th century - the sailor's date (Rita Petry), who be married, is smiling in the left background. Dave

The woman who was kissed by an ecstatic sailor in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died at the age of 92. Friedman was a 21-year-old dental assistant in a nurse's uniform on Aug. 14, 1945, known as V-J Day, the day the Japanese surrendered. People spilled out into the streets from restaurants, bars and movie theatres in New York City when they heard the news. That's when George Mendonsa spotted Friedman, spun her around and planted a kiss on her. The two had never met. The photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt is called "V-J Day in Times Square'' but is known to most the world over as simply, "The Kiss.'' (Source)

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[scifan57]

World Trade Center in New York City Destroyed by Terrorists in 2001 Killing Thousands!

On this day 15 years ago, Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network hijacked 4 commercial jets, 2 were crashed into the Twin Towers in NYC, one into the Pentagon, and another into a rural field in Pennsylvania - thousands of people were killed (quotes below described each of these events - Source). Dave






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A terrible act of terrorism and probably the largest mass murder in American history.

I've just checked and it is the deadliest terrorist attack the world has seen.

 

[scifan57]

September 17, 1862;

The battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one day battle in American history takes place between Union and Confederate forces.

Battle of Antietam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

Antietam - Bloodiest Single Day in the American Civil War - Today in 1862

After Lee's victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run at the end of August of 1862 and Jackson's capture of Harper's Ferry, the Confederate commander decided to invade the North for the first time - near the Maryland town of Sharpsburg and Antietam Creek, the bloodiest single day in the war and in American history occurred.

The Union commander was George B. McClellan, but despite Lee being outnumbered (more than 2:1) and McClellan unexpectedly getting his hands on Lee's complete battle plans, George could not win a victory and Lee left the field, so a tactical win, and enough for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation - there were over 22,000 casualties this day in 1962. Just a few pics below - Dave

Beginning early on the morning of this day in 1862, Confederate and Union troops in the Civil War clash near Maryland’s Antietam Creek in the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. The Battle of Antietam marked the culmination of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the Northern states. Guiding his Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac River in early September 1862, the great general daringly divided his men, sending half of them, under the command of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, to capture the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry (Source).

President Abraham Lincoln put Major General George B. McClellan in charge of the Union troops responsible for defending Washington, D.C., against Lee’s invasion. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac clashed first with Lee’s men on September 14, with the Confederates forced to retreat after being blocked at the passes of South Mountain. Though Lee considered turning back toward Virginia, news of Jackson’s capture of Harper’s Ferry reached him on September 15. That victory convinced him to stay and make a stand near Sharpsburg, Maryland (Source).

By the time the sun went down, both armies still held their ground, despite staggering combined casualties–nearly 23,000 of the 100,000 soldiers engaged, including almost 4,000 dead. McClellan’s center never moved forward, leaving a large number of Union troops that did not participate in the battle. On the morning of September 18, both sides gathered their wounded and buried their dead. That night, Lee turned his forces back to Virginia. His retreat gave President Lincoln the moment he had been waiting for to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, a historic document that turned the Union effort in the Civil War into a fight for the abolition of slavery (Source).

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[scifan57]

Here's a painting and an original battle map.

 

[giradman]

September 17, 1862;

The battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one day battle in American history takes place between Union and Confederate forces.

Battle of Antietam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OOPS - Scifan.. beat me to it by seconds! Probably in the 1990s, I was at a medical meeting in Baltimore and a friend and I took a day off (he had rented a car) and we did a 'Civil War Tour' - started out going to Harper's Ferry on the Potomac-Shenandoah Rivers, then to Sharpsburg-Antietam, and finally to Gettysburg - did not do justice to the latter Pennsylvania battlefield, so glad that Susan & I returned for an all day stay there recently w/ a great tour and a new Visitor's Center. Dave

 

[scifan57]

OOPS - Scifan.. beat me to it by seconds! Probably in the 1990s, I was at a medical meeting in Baltimore and a friend and I took a day off (he had rented a car) and we did a 'Civil War Tour' - started out going to Harper's Ferry on the Potomac-Shenandoah Rivers, then to Sharpsburg-Antietam, and finally to Gettysburg - did not do justice to the latter Pennsylvania battlefield, so glad that Susan & I returned for an all day stay there recently w/ a great tour and a new Visitor's Center. Dave

You were probably writing your very good detailed, illustrated post when I snuck in with my short post.

 

[giradman]

Here's a painting and an original battle map.
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As I recall from my trip to the Antietam Battlefield, in addition to the Visitor's Center, we did visit all of the major areas of action on field, including Burnside Bridge (was so peaceful that day), Sunken Road, Dunker Church, Bloody Lane, and the North Woods. Dave
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[giradman]

For those interested in the Battle of Antietam, visit the Civil War Trust website - link goes to the Antietam section - scroll down to the 'Animated Map' feature and click - there are 6 short episodes that are well done (see images below). Dave
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[RudyN]

I have been to Antietam and want to go back.


Sent from the Telegraph Office

 

[giradman]

I have been to Antietam and want to go back.

Same here - has been about 20 years since my first (and last) visit to Antietam - there must at least be a new film and some new or updated exhibits; plus, I'd love to do a half day tour w/ one of those official guides, like my wife & I took last year at Gettysburg.

Not sure 'where' you live but if in the mid-Atlantic/Southeast, checkout my 'Civil War' travelogue from the spring of 2015 HERE - might give you some ideas for an itinerary? I've been a member of the Civil War Trust for many years and wore my CWT baseball cap to each of the battlefields we visited (have the navy blue one). Dave
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[RudyN]

I was there in 2011. Visited Gettysburg (3 days), Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Appomattox, Saylers Creek, Fredricksburg, Wilderness and Chancellorsville.


Sent from the Telegraph Office

 

[giradman]

I was there in 2011. Visited Gettysburg (3 days), Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Appomattox, Saylers Creek, Fredricksburg, Wilderness and Chancellorsville.

OK - I've been to all of those places, too - so this is not a 'contest' - but if you're interested, add a travelogue of your experiences to the appropriate forum here or simply tack on a couple of posts to my Civil War one already present - my main reason to post these local adventures is to encourage others who may want to visit the same sites - Dave

 

[giradman]

Lewis & Clark Return to St. Louis After Exploring the US Northwest!

The Lewis & Clark Expedition started in early May 1804, a year after the Louisiana Purchase from France and initiated by the then President, Thomas Jefferson. Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and William Clark (1770-1838) led the journey of the 'Corps of Discovery'. The adventure/exploration lasted 2 1/2 years and ended today w/ their return to St. Louis. For those interested in this amazing journey, the book below by Stephen Ambrose and the 4-hr PBS video by Ken Burns are highly recommended. Dave

Amid much public excitement, American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark return to St. Louis, Missouri, from the first recorded overland journey from the Mississippi River to the Pacific coast and back. The Lewis and Clark Expedition had set off more than two years before to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase (Source).

Even before the U.S. government concluded purchase negotiations with France, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his private secretary Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, an army captain, to lead an expedition into what is now the U.S. Northwest. On May 14, the “Corps of Discovery,” featuring 28 men and one woman—a Native American named Sacagawea—left St. Louis for the American interior.

On September 23, 1806, after two and a half years, the expedition returned to the city, bringing back a wealth of information about the largely unexplored region, as well as valuable U.S. claims to Oregon Territory (Source).

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[giradman]

Arnold Palmer - Legendary Golfer - Died Sunday at 87!

Arnold Palmer (1929-2016) died yesterday in Pittsburg, PA (his home state) - he was a legendary golfer who was known as the King - the main reason for posting is that he had a life time relationship w/ Wake Forest University which was founded in the small town of Wake Forest, NC (just north of Raleigh) in 1834, but moved to Winston-Salem, my home town in 1956. Palmer was on the college 'golf team' of Wake Forest in its previous location; however, he often returned to Winston-Salem for various events, including the dedication of his statue which now stands outside the Jesse Haddock House (former legendary golf coach) on the Wake Forest campus - more on the latter HERE, for those interested.

Below just a few pics below of Palmer w/ his 1954 team mates, Arnie w/ two other Wake Forest golf alums, Palmer riding on a cycle w/ the Wake Forest mascot, and finally the statue outside the Haddock House. Dave
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