Autumnal equinox, the first day of fall, is today in the northern hemisphere. The first day of spring is celebrated in the southern hemisphere. Today the lengths of day and night are both twelve hours. Children can learn more at: September Equinox.
Flag of Mali
Mali celebrates Independence Day. It became free from France in 1960. Slightly less than twice the size of Texas, Mali is a landlocked country in western Africa. Gold mining is one source of income for the country. Almost sixteen million people live there, and Bamako is the capital. Older children could learn more at: Mali.
Nathan Hale was hanged in 1776 by the British for being an American spy. Nathan and his five brothers had joined the American army in 1775. He quickly rose to the office of captain. George Washington asked for a volunteer to go behind the enemy lines to gather information about British General William Howe’s military plans. Nathan stepped forward. Disguised as a Dutch teacher, he gathered information. However, he was caught in New York City before he could return to the general’s headquarters. He is famous for saying, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Children could learn more at: Nathan Hale.
United States Post Office and the office of Postmaster General were created by Congress in 1789. Today the Post Office employs 700,000 people to deliver 213 billion items per year. It “delivers mail by planes, hovercraft, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, bicycles, mules and feet.” It employs about 68,000 veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans. Children could find some interesting fun facts about the post office at Post Office.
1940 Rural Postman Delivering Mail along Creeks and Roads near Jackson, Kentucky
Operation Little Vittles began in 1948. To understand Operation Little Vittles, we must understand Operation Vittles. After World War II ended. Germany was divided into four sectors, with the United States, France, United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union each in charge of one sector. The Soviet Union’s sector included Berlin. The Soviet Union on June 24, 1948, began blockading Berlin, allowing no food or fuel to enter the city. The other three nations responded by airlifting food and fuel, Operation Vittles, into the desperate city. Colonel Gail Halvorsen was one of the pilots bringing in supplies. He noticed that the children in Berlin got excited to even see a stick of gum. He decided to drop his rations of candy and gum attached to handkerchief parachutes to the children. Thus began Operation Little Vittles. Others heard of his kindness, and individuals and candy makers began donating goodies. Eventually over 23 tons of candy were dropped from about 250,000 small parachutes. On May 13, 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade, and Operation Vittles and Operation Little Vittles were no longer needed.
Women were allowed to attend military academies, per Congress, in 1975. Today roughly 22 percent percent of the academies’ graduating classes are women.
Michael Faraday (born near London, England, 1791; died Hampton Court, England, August 25, 1867) was an important and famous scientist. He discovered electromagnetism. He also conducted experiments regarding valence. Children could learn more about Faraday at: Michael Faraday. They could also learn how to make an electromagnet at: electromagnet.
Caps for Sale
Esphyr Slobodkina (born Chelyabinsk, Siberia, 1908; died Glen Head, New York, July 21, 2002) was an author and illustrator. One of her books is Caps for Sale, which has sold more than two million copies. She wrote twenty other books. Children can learn more at: Esphyr Slobodkina.
Junko Tabei (born Japan, 1939; died Japan, October 20, 2016) became on May 23, 1975, the first woman to climb Mount Everest. She was also the first woman to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. She wrote seven books and created drives to remove the litter left behind by climbers as they scaled Mount Everest.