DECEMBER 19 — 1777 Washington hunkers down at Valley Forge; 1949 Pablo Escobar, world’s most successful cocaine dealer, is born732 Poor Richard’s Almanac published; 1941 Internment camps establishment announced for enemy aliens; 2015 KU Jayhawk fans game breaks record for most Christmas sweaters in one seating
DECEMBER 19
1777- Washington hunkers down at Valley Forge.
…In 1776 Washington was looked upon as a great leader who might beat these redcoats just yet, after the battles Trenton and Princeton. But 1777 was a much different year for General George Washington, who had just lost Philadelphia. Congress secretly began to look at other options besides Washington. Washington famously said, Congress does not trust me, I cannot continue thus. Sure you can George, just hang in there!
By the end of 1777, food and clothing were very scarce for the Washington’s army. He would send a 16,000 word long letter to Congress. “Something must be done—important alterations must be made.” The alternative was the “dissolution of the army” at worst, or its continued existence as a “feeble, languid, ineffectual” force—a second best that would only delay the worst for a year or two. This letter educated congress on two things, first that it called for promising officers a postwar pension to stay in the army, but even more shocking, the collapsing Continental Army. Congress had no money for the army. On Christmas Eve, the army would barely get by on a dinner of rice and vinegar, and had to use rags to cover their bleeding frostbitten feet.
Valley Forge….to be continued.
1943 – HB William DeVries, who performed the first artificial heart surgery. 1871 – Albert Jones patents corrugated paper, I believe that’s the part of the cardboard that has the ridges and is sandwiched between flat pieces of paper. Now the English already had this, but Jones gets credit it for patenting it for the use of improving packaging for transportation.
1854 – Allen Wilson of Connecticut patented sewing machine to sew curving seams.
1732 – Poor Richard’s Almanac ifs published. Full of unforgettable quotes, this book penned Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia. Fools make feasts and wise men eat ‘em. Eat to live, and not live to eat. Teach your child to hold his tongue; he’ll learn fast enough to speak. Humility makes great man twice honorable. Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
God helps those that help themselves. Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass. The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise. Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones. Good stuff.
If you don’t have a copy of this age-old legendary book, please let me know and I will buy you one.
1941 – The US Government finally figured out what to do with the thousands of enemy aliens it was holding in various locations around the country. The plan was to build an internment camp in an undisclosed location that was leaked out to be Montana. These aliens, of course Germans, Italians and Japanese were given three square meals per day and not much else. Chinese Americans began wearing Chinese flagpins on their shirts as to not too be confused with the Japanese.
1972 – Happy BD Warren Sapp. Yeah you don’t want this guy running after you. Believe me he’ll catch you and take you down. But don’t take my word for it; just ask the quarterbacks whose bell he’s rung, causing them to ask questions like Where Am I? Who are you? Who am I? Sapp played for the Buccaneers and Raiders during his career and he recorded 96.5 sacks.
2015 — KU wins record for most Christmas sweaters in one gathering.
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team scored more than just basket points on this night in 2015, as thousands of fans entered Allen Field house arena wearing Santa sweaters, reindeer sweaters, you name it.
On December 10, 2014, some college in the United Kingdom won the record for 1,175 people wearing sweaters, but on this night it the record would be shattered by 3,473 fans united to show Santa and his elves some love and Christmas cheer.