Symbol of US
The Maundy Monday Newsletter - This Week in History June 16 - 22.
America loves symbols.
For instance, we have the bald eagle, our official national bird. Here in DC, we love the bald eagle so much that it serves as the mascot for every professional sports team in the area.
We have the United States Flag, featuring 50 stars representing the states and red and white stripes representing our 13 original colonies. It has just enough blue to match our collective mood at any given time.
Symbols can be official, such as flags and national animals, or unofficial, like McDonald's, Ford Trucks, Apple, or the NFL.
Of course, not all symbols are uplifting or portray America in a positive light. We can describe America through symbols, such as unnecessary mass shootings, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and Wall Street executives going on CNBC to blather on about inflation.
This past weekend, we celebrated the United States Army's 250th birthday with a parade. In case you missed it, don’t worry – only dozens attended it. There is a pronounced symbolism in parading your army through the streets of your nation's capital, as it may be perceived as projecting strength to the general public. The dozens who went surely felt reassured by the sight of tanks rolling down Constitution Avenue.
While we sort out what happened on Saturday, this week we celebrate a significant symbol of freedom that was given to us by the people who played an essential part in the country's creation.
On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City.
The French ship Isere brought the massive statue across the Atlantic in multiple crates. Over two hundred thousand people lined the shores to welcome the vessel into port. On October 26, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated and has been a welcoming, inspiring symbol of the greatness of the United States.
Okay, let's highlight what else happened this week. As a reminder, these events celebrate their anniversary, ending in 5 or 0. Here's what I got:
1. Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19, 1865. United States Army Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed to the enslaved people of Texas that they were free. It makes it older than Memorial Day, the Department of Justice, and every fast food joint. I wrote a little bit about it back in 2023 when it took about 150 years to give us a day off.
2. The U.S. Justice Department was created on June 22, 1870. Five years after Juneteenth, the department was created under President Grant to prosecute people who opposed Juneteenth or the amendments passed during Reconstruction.
3. Jaws premiered on June 20, 1975. The Steven Spielberg thriller became the first summer blockbuster, grossing $475 million off a $9 million budget. The Shark had no lines, but everyone knew what the shark was up to, and since then, everyone has been scared to go into the ocean.
Here’s the new section where I highlight something awesome from this week.
Here’s what I got:
Venus Williams was born on June 17, 1980. The oldest sister of the Williams tennis stars, Venus, turned pro at 14 and went on to win numerous tournaments, becoming the second-highest earner in tennis history.
At 14, I played a lot of baseball. My career ended at 16, and I made zero money.
Anonymous, Blue, and I will be traveling to West Virginia for the rest of the week for a family gathering. We will be up in the mountains, with gorgeous views – great American symbols of God’s creation.
Thanks for supporting Okay History. I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Don’t attend any party that involves tanks.
Okay,
Chris
