June 18, Exciting Historic Events and Elvis too

June 18, on this day in history many remarkable things happened. The day after the Battle of Bunker Hill (fought on June 17, 1775), the first major battle in the US revolutionary war, Abigail Adams from her farm near Charleston wrote to her husband John, who was in Philadelphia serving in the Continental Congress.

The book I have and found this info in is The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb.

From a hill on their farm Abigail Adams saw the smoke of the battle rising above Charlestown. In her letter to her husband beginning "Dearest Friend", Abigail wrote "The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Trust in him at all times ye people, pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us - Charlestown is in ashes." 

She further wrote that when their farm is deemed unsafe she will go to retreat at John's brother's home. Brave woman. One reason she wrote this letter is to mourn the death of their dear friend Dr. Joseph Warren who was killed in the battle and to inform John of the death, "Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the soldiers and leading them on by his own example."

Other notable events on June 18: In 1873 Suffragist Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for trying to vote. in the 1872 Presidential election, a fine she refuses to pay.

In 1928 Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger on a flight piloted by Wilmer Stultz. She later became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

In 1983 Sally Ride became America's first woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.

 

In 1948 Columbia Records unveils a remarkable new product, a long playing 33 1/3 rpm phonograph record. How many of you had those records? My dad bought me my first one, Blue Hawaii by Elvis Presley, I loved that record, the movie and those songs. My dad bought the album for me as a surprise and told me he was the cool dad and he was. Many people strongly objected to Elvis, he was too sensual for them back in the old days.

The Book that Made America book giveaway

I am delighted to have a copy of this book to give away here.
"The Book that Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation" by Jerry Newcombe documents the Christian roots of our nation.
Secularism is working its way through our culture, asserting things that are not correct, and even some political leaders are wrongly asserting that America did not begin and continue as a Christian nation.
Americans today have the right and the duty to preserve and uphold that heritage. This book provides readers with the facts of American history.
Those who want to restore knowledge of our Christian heritage have their work cut out. As secularism prevails in our schools, we move further and further away from retaining our Christian roots. The Book That Made America will challenge anyone to know the true origin of our Nation and to fight to keep it. Newcombe hopes to educate Americans by providing the facts of history, proving that America began as a Christian nation and Americans have every right to preserve and uphold that heritage.


Most of what is positive in our country's foundation can be traced back to the Scriptures. Recently, President Obama declared that America is not a Christian nation, while Newsweek announced the demise of Christian America. This book answers secularists with the facts.

Leave a comment here for the chance to win the free copy that the publisher is providing.
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If you are already a follower, and leave a comment, you will have two chances to win the copy.

The American Patriot's Almanac

This book is full of compelling stories about American history, with a different historical event being presented each day of the year. Here is an entertaining way to learn about our country, in easy to read informative snippets. An attractive hardcover binding holds many treasures within, including the documents that help make this country a focus of liberty loving people all over the world.
The text of the Gettysburg Address and the Bill of Rights is right at hand here, and the story of Betsy Ross, pictures of the flags of the Revolutionary War, an entry about jazz, another about Labor Day, and the authors’ selections for the best 50 All-American movies.
I was reminded of many movies I have seen and am inspired to watch them again, and quite a few I have missed and will look for. “Best Years of Our Lives”, and “Seabiscuit” are two of the fifty recommended films.
For every American and particularly for families that home school the authors, William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb, are especially adept at making history fun. Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the U.S. colonies in 1737 in Boston? Now that is a long and venerable tradition. You will find many lesser known events including the entry for June 13 which has the story of Lafayette and the sentry.
There is a chapter of prayers for America written by many people, including Abraham Lincoln's Prayer for Peace.
August 20 presents “E Pluribus Unum” which highlights for me the strength of the United States, “Out of many, one.” We are a nation built by people from many lands, tied together by a bond of patriotism, love of freedom and mutual aid.