AMERICAN PATRIOT
VIEW IN
FULLSCREEN CLICK ABOVE
MAY 5, 2010
THE U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY THE SEA YIELDS TO KNOWLEDGE
GATEWAY ARCH SYMBOL OF WESTWARD EXPANSION
SESAME STREET AND ITS LEGACY
AMERICAN PATRIOT PEARY’S QUEST FOR THE NORTH POLE
4 8
6 GATEWAY ARCH SYMBOL OF WESTWARD EXPANSION
THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY THE SEA YIELDS TO KNOWLEDGE
10
12
ALMOST PRESIDENT SAMUEL J. TILDEN
REMINDER TO A M E R I C A N PAT R I O T SUBSCRIBERS
SESAME STREET AND ITS LEGACY
Sunday May 9 is Mothers Day. Providing us with the perfect reason to remind you that as a subscriber you are entitled to 20% off any purchase at 1-800-Flowers.com. They have the freshest flowers, and the finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections and plush stuffed animals that will make your mom smile. Again, American Patriot subscribers get 20% off any purchase!
CLICK HERE AND ENTER CODE LOEB70 FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT
14 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
15 THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY
PEARY’S QUEST FOR THE NORTH POLE
4 AMERICAN PATRIOT
During the early years of the twentieth century, the conquest of the North and South poles were the object of fantasy and competition. Teams from Russia, Europe and the U.S. vied to be first. The man who accomplished it? American Robert E. Peary. Peary was born in Pennsylvania in 1856, moved to Maine after the death of his father in 1859, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1877. He passed the civil engineering examinations of the U.S. Navy and was commissioned in 1881. Soon, he became interested in the Arctic, making a brief trip to Greenland. In 1891, he was ready to make a significant Arctic Expedition, bringing along his wife and five others, including Matthew Henson, Peary's assistant in all his subsequent Arctic expeditions, and Frederick A. Cook, the party's surgeon. The trip was a scientific and public relations success: he made the 1,300-mile trip to Greenland and discovered new lands. Building on his celebrity, liquidicity he organized another Greenland expedition, which lasted two years and was marked by the The triumph was dampened by a competing discovery of three huge meteorites. OK had claim that his old colleague, Frederick Cook, reached the poll first. After a long and bitter At this point, Peary’s quest turned to the North Cancel public controversy, Peary's claims were validated Pole. Several attempts ended in failure, though and recognized by Congress and the major gehe got as close as 175 miles away in one try, and Browse ographic societies of the world. He was feted as he lost eight toes to amputation in another. In a great hero until the day he died. Ironically, in July 1908 Peary embarked on one last attempt 1989, the National Geographic Society reexwith the support of, among others, the National amined the records made by Peary and Henson Geographic Society and Teddy Roosevelt. Briland concluded that their calculations were incorliantly and meticulously planned — he was acrect —leaving them slightly short of the pole. companied by his best trained team ever including 24 men, 19 sleds and 133 dogs — he tasted victory along with Henson as they reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909.
SEE A MUSEUM EXHIBIT OF PEARY AND HIS EXPEDITIONS
AMERICAN PATRIOT 5
GATEWAY ARCH SYMBOL OF WESTWARD EXPANSION
6 AMERICAN PATRIOT
The Gateway to the West also known as the St. Louis’ Gateway Arch was designed by Eero Saarinen. The tallest monument in North America, the Arch stands at 630 feet tall, spans 630 feet of width, and cost $13 million to build. It was created on the bank of the Mississippi
fashioned riverboat, rent bikes, or explore
to help memorialize Thomas Jefferson and
the Museum of Westward Expansion.
as a symbol of the westward expansion of the U.S. It has also evolved into a symbol of
As with so many cities, the neighborhoods
St. Louis. Interestingly, Saarinen, who won
that connect the Arch to downtown St. Louis
a very competitive national competition,
have deteriorated in recent years. Now, a
never saw his vision completed, having died
new urban planning and architecture com-
during the long period of construction.
petition is taking place “to reinvigorate the area around the Gateway Arch and connect
Completed in 1965 and dedicate in 1968,
it to downtown St. Louis, the Mississippi
the Gateway Arch design has two bases that
River and the Illinois bank.” The competition
are equilateral triangles. The sweeping design
is a public-private project of the CityArch-
is in the style of expressionist modern art.
River 2015 Foundation in collaboration with
Made of stainless steel structure, it is designed
the National Park Service. The teams’ final
to sway in winds over 20 mph. Visitors enter
entries will be put on public exhibition in
from an underground visitors enter are al-
August and the jury's decision will announced
lowed to visit the top of the Arch on a viewing
in September.
area that can hold up to 160 people with 16 windows on each side. Trams have been
Another date looms large. The competition
operating for over 30 years and have taken
envisions completion of the project by Oct.
over one million visitors annually up to the
28, 2015 — the 50th anniversary of the
top of the Arch. There, a visitor can see up
Gateway Arch's completion.
to 30 miles on a clear day; even from the platform you can see Illinois and the Mississippi River, which flows by at a leisurely three miles per hour. The waterfront on which Gateway Arch is built has many other
PLAN A VISIT TO GATEWAY ARCH RIVERFRONT AN EXHIBIT OF EERO SAARINEN’S GREATEST BUILDINGS
attractions: visitors can also ride an old AMERICAN PATRIOT 7
HOW TO
LIVE UNITED: JOIN HANDS. OPEN YOUR HEART. LEND YOUR MUSCLE.
FIND YOUR VOICE. GIVE 10%. GIVE 100%.
GIVE 110%. GIVE AN HOUR. GIVE A SATURDAY. THINK OF WE BEFORE ME. REACH OUT A HAND TO ONE AND
INFLUENCE THE CONDITION OF ALL.
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
LIVE UNITED
™
Want to make a difference? Help create opportunities for everyone in your community. United Way is creating real, lasting change where you live, by focusing on the building blocks of a better life– education, income and health. That’s what it means to Live United. For more, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG.
THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY THE SEA YIELDS TO KNOWLEDGE
8 AMERICAN PATRIOT
The United States Coast Guard, founded in 1876, is the smallest of the five service academies. Approximately 250 students enter the beautiful New London CT campus, and roughly 200 graduate to become ensigns at the end of four demanding years. The academy’s motto is Scientiae cedit mare, Latin for “the sea yields to knowledge.” The roots of today's Coast Guard were established in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton who proposed the formation of the Revenue Marine, a seagoing military service that would enforce customs and navigation laws, collect tariffs, hail in-bound ships, make inspections, and certify manifests. The first academy was held aboard the schooner Dobbin in Baltimore harbor with nine cadets aboard. In 1890, the campus was moved inland into Maryland and in 1910 to the Revolutionary War fort and Army post at Fort Trumbull in
admission to the academy is based solely upon
Connecticut. BY 1915, the modern Academy
solely merit and does not require a congressional
was born and, in 1932, the citizens of New
nomination. Tuition for cadets is fully funded
London donated the land of the present site.
by the Coast Guard in exchange for an active duty
liquidicity
service obligation of five years upon graduation. The Coast Guard Academy experience is grounded in the Academy's philosophy, which
OKthe United States Coast OK Guard is notableOK While
grows from three fundamental and inter-woven
as the oldest life-saving service in the world, its
objectives: to provide a well-rounded under-
roles include more than just maritime safety
graduate education, including specialization
and security. The Coast Guard is also called Browse Browse Browse
in a field of interest to the cadet and the Coast
upon for critical service in protection of natural
Guard; to provide, by rule and example, an envi-
resources, maritime mobility (management
ronment that encourages a high sense of honor,
of maritime traffic, commerce and naviga-
respect and devotion to duty; and to provide
tion) and national defense.
Cancel
Cancel
Cancel
training that prepares each graduate to immediately assume the duties of a junior officer aboard ship. Unlike the other service academies,
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY
AMERICAN PATRIOT 9
ALMOST PRESIDENT SAMUEL J. TILDEN
10 AMERICAN PATRIOT
In the most controversial presidential election of the nineteenth century, Samuel J. Tilden lost to Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. The election was analogous to the presidential election of 2000, when George Bush defeated Al Gore. Like Gore, Tilden won the popular vote, but the American political system awards the presidency to the candidate who wins the Electoral College. Like the election of 2000, the results of 1876 remain to this day a matter of dispute and controversy. Tilden grew up in New Lebanon NY. He was a skilled corporate lawyer for most of his life until the candidacy. Throughout the Civil War, he supported the Union and President Lincoln. A long time Democrat Party activist and an avid reformer, Tilden worked on taking down Tammany Hall and the dishonest political machine that controlled New York City and State. Tilden served briefly and successfully as New York governor, and then was nominated for President at the Democratic convention of 1876. In the fall election against Hayes, it was estimated that Tilden won 51% of the popular vote while Hayes only had 48%, but when the Republican Party challenged the validity of several states’ votes, cases of fraud and intimidation by local Southern Democrats were discovered in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. Recounts showed the popular vote count closer and Hayes winning by one electoral vote. Democrats urged Tilden to fight the questionable challenges, but he refused. A 15-member Congressional Commission was set up to determine whether the votes were valid; it voted 8-7 along party lines to give the election to Hayes. Some have argued that the real reason the Democrats agreed to Hayes’ election was that it was part of a compromise: if the Democrats
went along with Hayes, he would remove all the post-Civil War troops from the South, something the Democrats desperately wanted. Tilden’s health suffered after the election, and he quietly retired to his estate near Yonkers NY. He died a bachelor in 1886 leaving most of his $7 million to the public. Approximately $4 million went to eventually partially funding the New York Public Library and his home was turned into the National Arts Club. AMERICAN PATRIOT 11
SESAME STREET AND ITS LEGACY 12 AMERICAN PATRIOT
Photo Credit: Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)
“Sunny day, sweeping those clouds away!” Sesame Street, America’s longest running children’s television series, pioneered educational television when it began in 1969. Sesame Street’s objective started and has continued to be to teach children rudimentary skills by holding their captive attention. With fun characters like Grover, Snuffleupagus, and Oscar the Grouch as well as human characters like Susan and Gordon, kids have learned their ABC’s and counting, of course, and also how to deal with emotions, feelings, sharing and other people. Founded by Joan Ganz Cooney and Ralph Rogers, the show tries to incorporate interesting images, action, and humor to engage toddler and pre-school age kids. To that end, the writers designed the show in short skits over the hour-long episode.
Sesame Street has been graced with 118 Emmy’s. To recognize its accomplishments, First Lady Michelle Obara appeared on the 40 year anniversary episode. She taught the basics of growing a fruit and vegetable garden and the benefits of eating healthily. When the series originated, the writers made She is fourth First Lady to visit the show: a conscious decision to base the show in Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura an inner city setting, often on the steps of a liquidicity Bush have been there as well. Always inbrownstone. In this way, they hoped to ennovating, new additions in the 40th season courage inner-city audiences for the show include a new block format, new show open who were considered in great need of some OK and a new nature curriculum. early childhood education. Diversity was also a central point for reaching a large audience. With the concept of family unity in mind, the writers strove to create a show that parents and children could watch and enjoy together. The show has been entertaining and educating young people for four decades now, and estimated 77 million Americans so far have seen it at one time or another.
O
Cancel
Ca
While some have questioned the lasting Browse benefits Sesame Street’s teaching, few have challenged its intentions, execution and thoughtfulness in mixing education for kids with just enough entertainment to make it all work.
Bro
LAURA BUSH READS A BOOK TO BIG BIRD AND FRIENDS AMERICAN PATRIOT 13
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I have lost my right arm.” — GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE ON THE BLOW SUFFERED BY CONFEDERATE ARMY WHEN WARRIOR STONEWALL JACKSON DIES FROM HIS WOUNDS IN 1863
14 AMERICAN PATRIOT
THIS WEEK IN
AMERICAN HISTORY
1885. Good Housekeeping is founded, an iconic publication that gave advice on running a home, provided a broad range of literary offerings, pioneered many advertising and marketing breakthroughs including the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, and gave readers an opportunity for input.
AMERICAN PATRIOT 15
Upgrade Your Life
With Smart Circle Cards
Save 15% Use the savings code AMPAT15 at checkout
Let’s face it. Most of us, even if we haven’t lost a job or seen our retirement savings shrink, have taken a hard look at how we spend our money. That is smart thinking. Many people have cut back on things they really enjoy like vacations, recreation, entertainment, and dining out. Golfers play fewer rounds, massage enthusiasts don’t spend quite as much time at the spa, fans are catching fewer games. That smarts! You can still enjoy vacationing at a resort, playing golf at great courses, spending a day at the spa, dining out, and other activities you love without busting your new budget. How? By spending smarter
with Smart Circle Cards.
Visit us at www.smartcirclecards.net or call us at 1-800-775-1975 to see how you can get four rounds of golf for the price of one, three spa services for less than the price of a massage, 50% off dining, and more.
Live better. Live smart.
US01-1452_8.5x11_Layout 1 11/30/09 10:28 AM Page 2