I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Events and Celebrations

 NATIONAL OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING COMMERORATION DAY takes us back to that fateful day in 1995.  168 people lost their lives in the 2^nd worst act of terrorism on our soil.  This one was perpetrated by domestic terrorists.  Together, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols detonated a fertilizer bomb that was inside a rental truck they had parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.  The blast destroyed a third of the building, killing the 168 and injuring more than 680 others.  324 other buildings in a 16-block radius were affected causing $652 million in damages.  Timothy McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001, while Terry Nichols is serving life in prison.  This day also remembers the 665 rescue workers who responded and put themselves in danger.  168 seconds of silence is observed at 9:02a.m. central time.

NATIONAL HANGING OUT DAY is really about the environment.  Our dryers can use up to 10% of our homes energy and throwing our wet laundry over a clothesline can decrease our carbon footprint.  The fresh air and sunshine will also give your clothes and sheets a terrific smell that you just cant get out of a bottle or a dryer sheet.

Next, we celebrate a spice that is also a flower with NATIONAL GARLIC DAY.  Garlic is actually a member of the lily family and earned the nickname “stinking rose”.  Garlic has been around thousands of years and is quite useful as a spice, an ingredient, a remedy for colds and of course for repelling vampires.  It is a key ingredient in my BBQ sauce.  Pick a sauce, any sauce will do, add some beer and garlic powder then stir.  If you do it right, it will fizz up.  I am sure you can find some way to work some garlic into your day.

Let’s journey back in time to 16^th century Saronno Italy, where a family run inn serves it’s own blend of brandy and almonds.  They pretty much keep it in the family for hundreds of years until the Di Saronno family start mass producing it for the world.  Because they did, we get to celebrate NATIONAL AMARETTO DAY, and I am glad we get to.  This liqueur has a little bitterness to it – due to the almonds – but goes great in coffee, cookies, candies and of course, cocktails.  If you decide to imbibe, please don’t drink and drive.  An amaretto sour does not sound bad.

On this day…

1775 – We formally declare our independent intentions with the start of the Revolutionary War

1897 – J.J. McDermott wins the first Boston Marathon

1967 – K.V. Switzer is the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon – though women weren’t allowed to compete at the time – my, have times changed

Happy Birthday…

 Lucretia Garfield – 1832 – Our 21^st First Lady

Eliot Ness – 1903 – Leader of “The Untouchables” whose job was to put Al Capone out of business

Dudley Moore – 1935 – Very funny actor

Susan Polgar – 1969 – Chess whiz who became a Grandmaster

Maria Sharapova – 1987 – Pretty good tennis player

Enjoy the day and make it your own

 LORD, we give thanks for your love, mercy and blessings.  May your grace shine down on us this beautiful day.  We also ask for healing and comfort to be bestowed on a special friend who is battling cancer.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

Thank you to National Day Calendar; National Today; History.com; Britannica.com; Wikipedia