Happy birthday, Jimmy Carter (he’s 91)

October 1, 2015

Photo and caption from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It’s been a busy few days for former President Jimmy Carter, who turns 91 today. This past Saturday, he was out and about at the annual Plains Festival, including watching the parade with his wife, Rosalynn , from the balcony of the Plains Inn. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Photo and caption from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It’s been a busy few days for former President Jimmy Carter, who turns 91 today. This past Saturday, he was out and about at the annual Plains Festival, including watching the parade with his wife, Rosalynn , from the balcony of the Plains Inn. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

 

Jimmy Carter was born 91 years ago today in Plains, Georgia.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner still lives there, today. Maybe there are exceptions to Thomas Wolfe’s rule? Especially for those who stay at home.

A short note in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website suggests celebration activities, if you’re in Atlanta:

Jimmy Carter turns a youthful 91 today. While the former Georgia governor and president of the United States celebrates with family and friends, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta has a way for everyone to join the fun. Admission is reduced to 91 cents all day Thursday (those 16 and under are always admitted free of charge), and there’ll be a special drawing for a signed copy of Carter’s book, “Keeping Faith.” In addition, if you bring a birthday card along with you, the library says they’ll make sure President Carter sees it.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is located at 441 Freedom Parkway, and is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m Mondays-Saturdays, and from noon to 4:45 p.m. on Sundays. For more information call (404) 865-7100 or go to www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov.

 

1 Comment | History, Presidents | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

October’s dates to fly U.S. colors

October 1, 2015

Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, present the U.S. flag at the start of New Haven's Columbus Day Parade, 2006. 28 flags demonstrated the history of the U.S. flag. KofC photo

Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, present the U.S. flag at the start of New Haven’s Columbus Day Parade, 2006. 28 flags demonstrated the history of the U.S. flag. KofC photo

October is not a big month for dates to fly the U.S. flag.  Only one state joined the union in October, and only two other dates have merited Congress’s designation for flag-flying.

Here are October’s three flag-flying days, in chronological order:

  • Columbus Day, October 12 —  tradition puts Columbus Day on October 12, but in law it is designated as the second Monday in October (to make a three-day weekend for workers who get a holiday); in 2015, October 12 is the second Monday of the month.
  • Navy Day, October 27
  • Nevada Statehood Day, October 31; Nevada joined the union during the Civil War, in 1864, the 36th state.

Federal law also designates October 9 as Leif Erickson Day, a concession to Scandanavian-descended Americans who argue Erickson beat Columbus to the Americas by a few hundred years. Congress’s recognition does not include an urging to fly the flag, though the President may issue such a proclamation.

More:

1 Comment | Columbus, Flag etiquette, Fly, History, U.S. Flag | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell