Flag of Gabon
Gabon celebrates Independence Day. It gained autonomy from France in 1960. The country, located on the western coast of Africa, is for the most part covered with rain forest. The country’s area is about the same as the area of Colorado, and about 1.6 million people live there. Libreville is the capital.
Robert Fulton’s first steamboat North River Steamboat, also known as the Clermont, was operated for the first time in 1807. It traveled between Albany and New York City. At first called “Fulton’s Folly,” the ship cruised the 150-mile stretch in 32 hours.
Double Eagle II
Double Eagle II landed in Miserey, France, in 1978. The balloon and its crew, Larry Newman, Ben Abruzzo, and Max Anderson, had left Presque Island, Maine, on August 11, 1978. The balloon was the first one of its kind to travel across the Atlantic Ocean, and the three balloonists instantly became heroes. Idea: Children could list the difficulties the crew faced. For example, where did they sleep? Older children can learn more at: Double Eagle II.
Davy Crockett (born Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1786; died at the Alamo, March 6, 1836) was an adventurer and a frontier fighter. He represented the state of Tennessee in the House of Representatives from March 4, 1833 to March 4, 1835. Idea: Children could make a timeline of Davy Crockett’s life. Older children could read his autobiography, A Narrative of the Life of Davy Crockett, of the State of Tennessee, at: Project Gutenberg.
Myra Cohn Livingston (born Omaha, Nebraska, 1926; died Los Angeles, California, August 23, 1996) wrote books of poetry for children. Her works include Celebrations and Sky Songs. Children can learn more at: Myra Cohn Livingston.
Geneva Grace Stratton-Porter (born near Wabash, Indiana, 1863; died Los Angeles, California, December 6, 1924) wrote books for children. She also wrote articles for magazines, and she was one of the first woman movie producers. Her books include Keeper of the Bees and A Girl of the Limberlost. Children can learn more at: Geneva Grace Stratton-Porter. Children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg.
On this day, two events connecting John White and Roanoke occurred:
Phobos
Phobos, one of the two moons of Mars, was discovered by Asaph Hall of the United States Naval Observatory in 1877. The moon was named after the Greek god Phobos, meaning fear. The small moon actually orbits Mars faster than Mars rotates. Experts believe Phobos may eventually break apart and form a ring around Mars. Children could learn more at: Phobos.
Women’s Air Derby took place in 1929. Also called the Powder Puff Derby by Will Rogers, this race was the first women-only flying competition. Twenty pilots left Santa Monica, California, on either August 18 or 19. They made eleven stops before they finished in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of the women completed the competition. Louise Thaden won the race in the heavier airplane competition, landing in Cleveland on August 26, 1929. Phoebe Omlie won the lighter airplane competition.
Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Smith Carter (born Plains, Georgia, 1927; died Plains, Georgia, November 19, 2023) was America’s First Lady from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. She was the wife of Jimmy Carter, thirty-ninth president of the United States. While she was First Lady, she devoted much of her time to the performing arts. She also held a post on the President’s Commission on Mental Health. She was the second longest living First Lady. Children could visit a website at: Rosalyn Smith Carter. Idea: They could find out if the Secret Service protects former First Ladies.
Roberto Clemente (born Carolina, Puerto Rico, 1934; died San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 31, 1972) was a baseball player. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent his entire career with them. He was killed in a plane crash while trying to deliver supplies to Nicaragua. An earthquake there had devastated parts of the country. He became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. Children could learn more at: Roberto Clemente.
Paula Danziger (born Washington, DC, 1944; died New York, New York, July 8, 2004) wrote more than 30 children’s books. She is well known for her Amber Brown series. After Danziger died, her two close friends, Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy, wrote more Amber Brown books in her style. Children could learn more at: Paula Danziger.
Louise Fatio (born Lausanne, Switzerland, 1904; died New Jersey, July 26, 1993) wrote books for children. Her husband, Roger Duvoisin, illustrated many of her works. Her books include Happy Lion and Happy Lion and the Bear.
Sonia Levitin (born Berlin, Germany, 1934) has written at least 37 books for children and young adults. Incident at Loring Groves earned a 1989 Edgar Award, and The Return received a 1987 Sydney Taylor Book Award. Children could learn more at: Sonia Levitin.
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis (born Albemarle County, Virginia, 1774; died near Nashville, Tennessee, October 11, 1809) was half of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. He later became governor of the Louisiana Territory. Older children might be able to solve the mystery surrounding Lewis’s death. They could read Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map, by Geoff Benge and Janet Benge. They could read his journals at Project Gutenberg.
National Aviation Day
National Aviation Day is today. The day honors the birth of Orville Wright, the first of the brothers to fly a plane at Kitty Hawk. President Franklin Roosevelt first proposed the day in 1939. Children could celebrate the day by making and flying paper airplanes.
Honey Bee
World Honey Bee Day is today! Celebrated on the third Saturday in August, the day honors the insect and all that it does for our planet. In 2009 then Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsek issued a proclamation that the day was National Honey Bee Day. The day grew in popularity to what it is today. Honey bees are important because they pollinate so many different types of plants, including fruit trees and plants, vegetables, and nut trees. Bee are insects, so they have six legs. They have five eyes and two sets of wings. Bees communicate how far and in what direction food can be found by performing intricate dances.