Category: Around the World

On this date, 104 years ago, a baby was born who would do more than nearly any other American to break down racial barriers in society, simply by playing a game he loved, and setting an example of integration for a country in desperate need of leadership.

Jackie Robinson’s Birthplace, Thomasville, GA

When he was born on January 31, 1919, Jackie Robinson’s sharecropper parents could not have imagined the impact he would have on the world. Life was tough growing up outside the small town of Cairo, Georgia. Jackie had his older siblings to lean on and look up to, but when he was five, Jackie’s dad left the family, never to return.

These days, there’s nothing left where the small house once stood. But there is a memorial to the great athlete.

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Jackie Robinson's birthplace

Memorial to Jackie and Matthew Robinson, Pasadena, CA

On her own, Jackie’s mom moved the five kids to Pasadena, California. And she must have been quite a mother! Not only did Jackie break the color barrier in baseball, his older brother Matthew “Mack” was a super fast runner. He competed in the same 1936 Berlin Olympics where Jesse Owens showed Hitler, and the world, that there was no place for discrimination in sports, or politics, or life. Mack came in second to Jesse, and won a silver medal.

Pasadena has since erected the Pasadena Robinson Memorial, to thank Jackie and Mack, two amazing sons of the city who excelled in their chosen fields, broke down barriers, and taught millions a lesson in humanity.

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Jackie Robinson & Mack Robinson Sculpture

University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

After a lot of encouragement from his older brother and others, Jackie found his talent lay in athletics, and he went to UCLA, where he lettered in four different sports. It was at UCLA where he met his future wife. He left the school right before graduating to take a job and pursue a career.

His first attempts to play professional sports was with football, not baseball! He played semiprofessional football, but in 1941, the US got involved in World War II, and those plans changed forever.

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University of California, LA (UCLA)

During his service in the Army, Jackie was encouraged to pursue a career in baseball, reigniting old dreams and desire. After a short stint in the Negro league, and the Minors, he was signed to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

On April 11, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, as a Brooklyn Dodger. While most of the crowd was neutral or supportive of integration, a vocal minority made their feelings clear. However, Jackie was stoic in his play, and ignored the hatred and bigotry of others.

He played his entire career as a Dodger, retiring right before he was traded in 1956. Ebbets Field was home field for the Dodgers back then, before the team moved to LA. Later, the arena was razed and an apartment complex was built on the site. In 1972, the building adopted the name the Jackie Robinson Apartments in honor of the man who integrated baseball.

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Site of Ebbets Field

Home in Queens, New York

Racism and discrimination were as prevalent off the field, and Jackie had a hard time finding a place for his family to live. After two years of renting an apartment they couldn’t even officially sign the lease to, they were able to buy a home in a recently-integrated area of Queens.

Robinson’s family weren’t the only famous Black residents; Count Bassie and Herbert Mills also lived in the area. Jackie and his family lived here in Addisleigh for about seven years. The family moved when he retired from baseball.

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Jackie Robinson's House (former)

Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York

On his first year of eligibility, on the first ballot, Jackie Robinson was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, an honor among MLB players. The hall of fame includes around 350 players, managers, umpires, and other influential individuals, who are voted on by the baseball writers of America.

The museum and hall of fame are wonderful places for baseball aficionados. They can see memorabilia, important items from baseball history, learn about the game and the people who play it, and more.

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Cypress Hills National Cemetery

As we look back on this true American hero, let’s take to heart the words emblazoned on his headstone:

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.

Thank you, Jackie.

The Civil War was the darkest time in US history, but the war that nearly tore the country apart was preceded by years of turmoil and tension that increased until war broke out in 1861.

One of the events that further divided the country was the actions led by revolutionary abolitionist John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, and his execution on December 2, 1859.

Let’s take a look at the life and times of John Brown, and see his influence on the Civil War and freeing of enslaved people in the United States.

John Brown was raised in a religious family that believed slavery was abhorrent and should be actively opposed. As an adult, he supported a violent overthrow of slavery, as he felt peaceful opposition was ineffective. History lessons barely talk about Brown, but he was famous in his time. He even worked with famed abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman!

Farm at Lake Placid, New York

In 1850, Brown and his family moved to the Lake Placid area of New York, to start a farm where he could teach freed people how to farm. They also built an area to hide people traveling on the Underground Railroad.

Brown intended for the farm to be a safe haven for his wife and children while he left them to fight against slavery in Kansas and other places.

It was here on the farm that his body was buried after he was put to death on December 2, 1859. The farm is now a National Historic Landmark, and is open to visitors year-round, even during the long, harsh winter months.

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John Brown Farm State Historic Site

Battle of Black Jack, Kansas

In the 1850s, the US Congress passed a law that said the new states could decide whether they would be “slave” or “free” states, and Kansas became a hotbed of struggle between the two sides.

Brown moved to Kansas to fight slavery in 1855, and became famous for his role in a three-month period of raids and massacres as pro-slavery and abolitionist forces fought.

The Battle of Black Jack was fought on June 2, 1856, and the “Free State” fighters won. The battle helped give the territory the nickname “Bleeding Kansas” and Brown a reputation as a radical leader in the abolitionist movement.

The area has several signs commemorating the battle, as documented by one of its survivors.

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Black Jack Battlefield

Historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Rather than find satisfaction with his actions in Kansas, Brown was fueled to commit even more significant, and violent, actions against slavery. He raised funds from noted abolitionists including Harriet Tubman in his efforts. The plan was to raid the armory at Harper’s Ferry with a large group, and move south, starting an uprising along the way.

Harper’s Ferry, a small town in then-Virginia was selected because it provided convenient access to the south, and would draw attention from people all over the United States. But mostly, the armory had thousands of weapons he would need for his revolution.

These days, Harper’s Ferry is most notable for Brown’s raid, and is a nice summer getaway from nearby Washington, D.C.

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Historic Harpers Ferry

John Brown’s Fort, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

On October 16, 1859, Brown and his army of 21 men (a far cry from the thousands he had hoped to recruit) raided the town’s armory, and temporarily halted a train. Eventually the train was allowed to pass, and the train’s conductor alerted others of the raid. Police quickly showed up and began a standoff with the revolutionaries.

After initial fighting at the armory, Brown and his men holed up at the fire engine house, which was later renamed “John Brown’s Fort”. They fought from that position until October 18, when a group of US Marines, overseen by Robert E. Lee, charged the building and quickly ended the uprising. Brown was wounded, and two of his three sons there that day were killed.

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John Brown's Fort at Harper's Ferry

Jefferson County Courthouse, Charles Town, West Virginia

Brown was captured and put in prison in the nearby county seat of Charles Town, West Virginia. He was put on trial on October 27, and the prosecution lasted a week. A jury deliberated for 45 minutes on the charges of murder. He was found guilty, and sentenced to death.

After the requisite one month waiting period, Brown was executed in a field near the courthouse on December 2, 1859. Many famous people spoke out in his defense, including Victor Hugo.

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Jefferson County Courthouse

John Brown’s Bell, Marlborough, Massachusetts

The Marines that broke up the raid took memorabilia, including weapons, books, and the arsenal bell, which was put on display in Massachusetts, and remains to this day.

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John Brown's Bell

While Brown awaited his death sentence, he spent days talking with reporters and others about the diabolical institution of slavery. He felt that his time in jail made his sacrifices all the more valuable, because he was able to draw attention and sympathy to the cause for an entire month.

His trial gathered more attention than even he could imagine, and his execution by hanging did indeed go a long way to ending slavery in the United States.

We remember Brown for his courage, and hopeless efforts to free the slaves, and recognize him for bravery and dedication, even if his methods were controversial. And, he did indeed move events forward to their inevitable conclusion in the Civil War.

Here are the last words he spoke before he was beheaded:

I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.

There are some ideas that have been spoken and written by American leaders that have become woven into the very core of the American identity. The words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, are some of the most powerful.

Let’s dive in and learn more about the Gettysburg Address, and what led Lincoln to declare that America is a nation “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg is a small town in Pennsylvania, on the border with Maryland. On July 1, 1863, it blasted into history as the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and a turning point in the fight.

In the days leading up to the battle, Confederate soldiers occupied the town of about 2,500. The battle crossed right through the city, with little regard for the civilians who lived there. Remarkably, only one civilian death was recorded: a woman killed by a stray bullet.

News of the battle quickly traveled across the country. To this day, the small borough is one of the most famous places in the United States.

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Gettysburg

Cyclorama at the Visitor’s Center

The battle at Gettysburg lasted three miserable days and involved nearly 200,000 men. A French artist Paul Philippoteaux created a cyclorama, a circular work of art, depicting Pickett’s Charge, the last push of the battle before the Confederates retreated. It is a stunning and educational work that can be viewed in the recently-upgraded visitor’s center.

The visitor’s center is a great place to stop and learn about the battle, get a feel for the size and scope of the events, and get a map before beginning a driving tour of the actual battle, which covers about 10 square miles.

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'Cyclorama Center' by Richard Neutra

The battle started early in the morning on July 1, 1863 when Confederate soldiers moving through the area encountered advancing Union soldiers, and the fighting began. After an entire day, nothing much was determined and the soldiers hunkered down for the night.

Devil’s Den

Some of the worst, and bloodiest, fighting of the entire Civil War took place on July 2. Solders from both sides attacked and defended territory all around Gettysburg. If the Confederates could gain a foothold at Gettysburg, they could invade further into the North.

Efforts to flank (go around) the Union Army led to struggles at places such as Devil’s Den, where fighting broke out across rocky, uneven ground. Of the 5,525 Confederate troops in that struggle, 1,814 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing. Of the Union’s 2,423 soldiers, 821 were killed, wounded, or missing.

There were dozens of other sites on the battlefield that left as many wounded and dead: Peach Orchard, Wheatfields, and Culp’s Hill are a few sites famous for their bloody battles.

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The Devil's Den

Little Round Top

The Union side was losing the struggle at Devil’s Den. From the vantage point on a small hill later known as Little Round Top, it was clear that Confederate troops were about to cut through the Union line and more soldiers were needed. A small group of soldiers from Maine, about 385, were told to “Hold the line at all costs” until others arrived. This meant they were expected to fight to the very last man.

After significant fighting, Union Colonel Chamberlain knew his men could not hold out much longer, so he ordered a brave and daring attack with bayonets. Amazingly, and with some help from other groups, the charge succeeded and the Union army was not encircled.

Now, Little Round Top is known as the site of one of the fiercest and bravest struggles in the entire war.

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Little Round Top

Pickett’s Charge

And yet, after two days of brutal fighting, no clear victor had emerged. Early on the morning of July 3, General Lee ordered one last charge against the Union line. First with cannon, then with soldiers, he ordered his generals, including Major General Pickett, to attack by running nearly a mile through an open field.

The soldiers suffered terrible casualties, with nearly half of the 12,000 soldiers killed or wounded. This charge, brave and bloody and useless, was the peak of the Confederacy, though it would take another two years for the war to end.

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Pickett's Charge - Battle of Gettysburg

Gettysburg National Cemetery

After the battle, the town was left to clean up the mess of war. They were responsible for removing the abandoned equipment and burying the dead soldiers and animals.

The town residents, along with Pennsylvania state leaders, quickly decided to create a state-funded cemetery for the dead Union soldiers, aptly named “Soldiers Cemetery”. In it were buried 3,512 Union soldiers, including 979 unknown.

Later the cemetery, on the battlefield itself, became part of the national historical site, and was renamed “Gettysburg National Cemetery”. Soldiers from other wars have been buried here in more recent times.

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Gettysburg

Speech Site

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg for the cemetery’s consecration.  It’s unclear exactly where the president stood, but historians have settled on this place as the most likely for the gathering.

Lincoln was not the main speaker that day, and his two-minute speech was far short of the hours-long orations given by others. But when the words were printed in newspapers around the country, their true value was recognized.

Speaking about the battle, the war,  and the struggle for freedom, Lincoln said “We here resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

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Probable actual spot where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address

May we too pledge that we will “never forget” the work advanced by these men, and the countless men and women who have fought for freedom elsewhere. And by our actions, ensure that freedom shall not perish from the earth.

Fall is in full swing. A perfect time for watching others skate around on ice chasing a three-inch disc for money. The National Hockey League is a $5 billion industry, with 32 teams in two countries, and players from all over the world. Let’s take a look at some of the places where the action will be taking place this fall and winter.

Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado

Ball Arena in downtown Denver, Colorado will be a great place to watch hockey this season. The Colorado Avalanche won their third Stanley Cup championship in 2022, and their fans are looking forward to another awesome season.

Ball Arena, which was built in 1999, was previously named the Pepsi Center, but the name changed in 2020 when the Ball Company (which makes jars) bought the naming rights. The NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth also play at the arena.

The Avalanche have a great record since moving to Denver. They won the Cup their very first year in Denver, which is quite a feat. And they’ve won it twice more since then.

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Ball Arena

Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida

The Amalie Arena opened in 1996 as the Ice Palace, hosting the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as various other sports and entertainment events. The arena is in downtown Tampa, and a big part of the city’s downtown economy. It’s one of the busiest arenas in the US, with all the events and activities it hosts.

It was in this arena that the Avalanche beat the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in 2022, and has been where the Lightning played the Cup-winning games in 2004 and 2021, as well as some games in their road to the 2019 victory. It was also the home-game arena for the Toronto Raptors during the 2020-2021 season due to Canadian COVID restrictions.

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Amalie Arena

Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada

The most successful team in the National Hockey League resides in Canada, the home of ice hockey as we know it today. The Montreal Canadiens are the oldest NHL team, and have won the Stanley Cup more often than any other team.

The team plays in Bell Centre, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in downtown Montreal. The arena is the largest in professional hockey, and is owned by the beer-making Molson family, one of Canada’s oldest and most prominent business families.

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Bell Centre

Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan takes hockey seriously. Nicknamed “Hockeytown”, they have the team that’s won more championships than any other American team. The Red Wings, one of the most famous and lucrative teams in hockey, got a new arena in 2017.

The Little Caesars Arena named, obviously, for the Little Caesar’s pizza company, has been called the “Pizza Box”, the “Pizza Palace” and more. There’s a giant Little Caesar’s logo on the top of the arena, so it can even be seen from the sky. The Detroit Pistons also play at the arena.

The tradition of throwing octopus on the ice after the anthem or after goals which originated a long time ago in the Joe Lewis Arena still continues to this day in the Pizza Box.

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Little Caesars Arena

Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington

The newest team in hockey is the Seattle Kraken, whose first season was in 2021-2022. The team is named after the Scandinavian mythical creature, which looks like the region’s giant octopus. Interestingly, the mascot is not an octopus, but a sea troll.

The Kraken play in the Climate Pledge Arena, which is also home to the WNBA team the Seattle Storm, as well as a few other sports teams.

The naming rights are owned by local company Amazon. Instead of naming the venue after the company, Amazon saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness for climate change. The venue has a goal of being zero-carbon, and is powered by renewable energy.

The venue is one of the oldest functioning arenas, and has been revived and renovated over the years. It’s been used for many things, like when in 1964, the Beatles played here!

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Climate Pledge Arena

Original Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the trophy awarded to the team who wins the NHL playoff series each year. The award itself is so famous, the entire competition itself is often referred to as the Stanley Cup.

The team who wins gets to take the gigantic trophy. Tradition holds that the winning team drinks champagne from the giant cup on top, and members take it around with them, and do crazy things with it all year. Several babies have been baptized in it, dogs have been fed from it, and who knows what else.

The names of the players and team members are engraved on the Cup each year, memorializing the honor of winning the Stanley Cup. There are a few versions of the Cup, but the original is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, in the Vault Room.

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Original Stanley Cup

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. The fast pace, the intense play, and the exciting fans make it almost impossible not to enjoy. May your team out hustle, out work, out think, out play, and out last their opponents and have a winning season.