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OCTOBER 27, 2010
AN AMERICAN HALLOWEEN THE NATIONAL MALL AMERICA’S GRAND AVENUE THE LEGEND OF
KNUTE ROCKNE
AMERICAN PATRIOT AN AMERICAN HALLOWEEN
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6 RIDE SALLY RIDE
8 COMMODORE JOHN BARRY
AMERICA’S FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE
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AMERICAN PATRIOT
THE LEGEND OF
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16 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
17 THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY
AN AMERICAN HALLOWEEN
Halloween is one of the world’s few near-universal holidays, but the American interpretation has become the standard-bearer for the “trick-or-treat” celebration. Evolving its way through the years, the holiday has developed a unique personality. Halloween has a whimsy and innocence that has made it popular with each new generation. With an emphasis on youth and mischief, ghosts and mystery, candy and costumes, it is distinctive among our holidays. 4 AMERICAN PATRIOT
By the time of the American Revolution, Halloween had become a popular tradition. New England, with its Puritan roots, had resisted anything resembling a harvest celebration on grounds of its supposed pagan and Catholic influences. As those fears and prejudices eased, Halloween became a celebration for youth, where the roles of young men and women were clearly set. Boys would venture into the night, creating havoc on farms and towns, turning over chimneys and letting loose livestock. Girls would stay in the home and celebrate “SanApple Night”, wherein apple bobbing and apple peeling were used to divine future mates and fortunes. Scary story telling, a Halloween tradition as old as the holiday itself, was an honored custom for both genders. tradition of trick-or-treat by turning candy into a Waves of immigrants in the 19th century further
harmless bribe that stopped Halloween pranksters.
shaped what we now think of as Halloween. Wher-
Following WWII, candy makers used the holiday as
ever the Irish settled, their Halloween traditions
a time to launch massive national advertising cam-
were absorbed by the native population. With an
paigns, furthering the practice of trick-or-treat.
emphasis on community masquerade parties, doorto-door visits, and the ubiquitous jack-o-lantern,
As the century wore on, Halloween continued its
the Irish way was inclusive and uncontroversial.
path of commercialization. An industry of decora-
German and Scottish immigrants added an element
tions, greeting cards, and costumes would spring
of mysticism and witchcraft. The English added
up to meet or create demand among consumers.
parlor games to the traditional Halloween party, and
The music and film industry profited mightily on
emphasize the romantic; Halloween developed as
Halloween-centric fare, and television dedicated
a ripe time for matchmaking and courting.
weeks of programming to the holiday. The spirit of Halloween, however, remains strong. A walk down
The spread of periodicals at the turn of the 20th
any American street on October 31st will find a
century further developed and standardize the cel-
scene right out of a Norman Rockwell painting,
ebration of Halloween. Publications such as Ladies
with a vibrancy and joy unique to the day. The en-
Home Journal and American Homes instructed
thusiasm of both young and old, of the losing of
homemakers and parents on the popular costumes
oneself in costume, story, or atmosphere, is the
and party trends of the day. In response to increasing mischief and vandalism on Halloween night,
lasting, exceptional gift of Halloween. CHECK OUT THE FAIR’S WEBHOW TO HOST YOUR OWN
candy manufacturers helped bolster the growing
HALLOWEEN PARTY
RIDE SALLY RIDE AMERICA’S FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE
6 AMERICAN PATRIOT
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. Twenty-two years after the first manned space mission, Ride hopped aboard the Challenger, the seventh space shuttle flight and immediately made history. Ride had applied to be an astronaut in 1977
Once her career as an astronaut was over, she
after seeing an announcement that NASA was
continued her involvement in the fields of space
looking for young scientists to serve as mission
and education. In 1986, she was part of the
specialists on its shuttle flights. Previous astro-
presidential commission investigating the Chal-
nauts had been military test pilots but, by the
lenger explosion. In 1987, she left NASA to
late 70s, NASA was branching out to scientists
accept a fellowship at the Stanford University
and technicians to monitor the complex tech-
Center for International Security and Arms Con-
nology of the shuttle. Eight thousand people
trol. After two years, she was named Director of
responded, one thousand of them women. Six
the California Space Institute and Professor of
women, among them Ride, were selected for a
Physics at the University of California, San Diego
group of 35 new astronauts.
where she pursued a crusade to encourage young women to study science and math. In 2001,
Ride initially thought she wanted to be a pro-
Ride founded Sally Ride Science, a science
fessional tennis player, but could not succeed
content company dedicated to supporting girls’
on the tour. Instead, she enrolled at Stanford
and boys’ interests in science, math and tech-
University, graduating in 1973 with degrees in
nology. She remains an advocate for improved
physics and English. She earned a Ph.D. in
science education and has written or collabo-
astrophysics shortly before joining NASA.
rated on five children’s books about space flight and the solar system.
As a mission specialist on the Challenger mission, her responsibilities included testing a robot
Ride has received numerous awards, including
arm, which deployed and retrieved satellites,
the Jefferson Award for Public service, the
assisting the commander and shuttle pilot during
Women's Research and Education Institute’s
ascent, re-entry, and landing, and acting as
American Woman Award, and the National
flight engineer. The trip took six days. Ride flew
Spaceflight Medal. Inducted into the Astronaut
into space again in 1984. During an 8-day mis-
Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center. Of her
sion, that crew deployed the Earth Radiation
historic first flight into space, she has said: “The
Budget satellite, conducted scientific observa-
thing that I’ll remember most … is that it was
tions of the Earth, and demonstrated the poten-
fun. In fact, I’m sure it was the most fun I'll ever
tial for satellite refueling by astronauts.
have in my life.”
CLICK HERE FOR A TIMELINE OF SALLY RIDE’S CAREER AMERICAN PATRIOT 7
The most dangerous animals in the forest don’t live there.
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COMMODORE JOHN BARRY PORTRAIT BY GILBERT STUART 8 AMERICAN PATRIOT
THE FORGOTTEN FATHER OF THE NAVY Overshadowed in history by his more famous contemporary John Paul Jones, Commodore John Barry is said by the experts to be equal to Jones in nautical skill and daring, but even more influential in nurturing a permanent American Navy. Barry was dubbed “Father of the American Navy” by his own generation. The Commodore was born into a poor
of Trenton and Princeton; he captured
tenant family in Ireland in 1745. At 14,
over 20 ships including an armed British
he immigrated to Philadelphia, where
schooner in the lower Delaware; he au-
he became a cabin boy, then seaman,
thored a Signal Book which established
then mate, and earned command of a
a set of signals used for effective com-
schooner by age 21. Soon thereafter, he
munication between ships; and he fought
graduated to the captaincy of bigger
the last naval battle of the American
ships. When the Revolutionary War came,
Revolution aboard the frigate Alliance
he was made captain of the Lexington,
in 1783.
one of two ships owned by the colonies and named after the first battle of the
After the war, Barry was named head of
revolution. He became the first com-
the U.S. Navy and became a well-known
mander of the new naval service in
advocate for increasing the new nation’s
December 1775.
naval presence. In 1797, the first USS United States was launched under the
Barry showed exceptional prowess in
command of the now-Commodore Barry.
battle. In quick succession, he was the
This vessel would serve as his flagship.
first to capture a British war vessel on
He was commander-in-chief of all Amer-
the high seas; he captured two British
ican warships in the battle with France
ships after being severely wounded in a
(1798 to 1800), served on active duty
ferocious sea battle; he quelled three
until 1801, and remained as head of
mutinies; he fought on land at the Battles
the Navy until his death in 1803.
AMERICAN PATRIOT 9
THE NATIONAL MALL AMERICA’S GRAND AVENUE
Located in Washington DC, the National Mall is a significant and symbolic central axis of the District’s monumental core. Designed by L’Enfant in 1791, The Mall was to be the foremost avenue of the city — the so-called “Grand Avenue” — running west from the Capitol to a point directly south of the President's House where its terminus would be crowned by an equestrian statue of George Washington. During the 19th century, this formal design for the Mall was largely forgotten. During the Civil War, the Mall grounds were used for military purposes and slaughtering cattle. In 1872, a large tract was given to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad for a depot, and the railroad laid tracks across part of the Mall. Years passed. Then in 1902, the Federal government launched a plan for restoration and development of the “Grand Avenue” ideal. The core of the Mall was to be a broad grass carpet, typical of those in Europe, 300' in breath and running the entire length of the Mall grounds, bordered on each side by rows of American elm trees. Public buildings were to border the whole, separated from the elms by narrow roadways. The railroad station was removed from the area in 1909. Today, The Mall more or less follows this pattern and is lined with a number of museums and government buildings. 10 AMERICAN PATRIOT
AMONG TODAY’S MANY MAJOR ATTRACTIONS ARE:
The Washington Monument Smithsonian Museums
National Gallery of Art
This tower honors the first
This Federal institution has
A first-rate art museum with a
president, and is the tallest
multiple museums, ten
large collection of masterpieces
structure in the nation’s
of which are on the Mall.
including paintings, drawings,
capital at 555 feet above the
Included are the ever-popular
prints, photographs, sculpture,
National Mall.
Smithsonian Air and Space
and decorative arts from the
Museum and the Hirshhorn
13th century to the present.
Museum and Sculpture Garden.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum This recent addition to the Mall was conceived to perpetuate the memory of the victims of the World War II Holocaust. It is one of the most visited sites. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
AMERICAN PATRIOT 11
THE NATIONAL MALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
U.S. Botanical Garden A state-of-the-art indoors Scattered throughout mall are historic landmarks honoring the presidents, the founding fathers and war veterans. The newest is the World War II Memorial, the only commemoration of a 20th Century event on the central axis.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WWII MEMORIAL
The Castle Formally known as the Smithsonian Building, this Gothic Revival building built of local Seneca sandstone was named for James Smithson, an Englishman who willed his entire fortune to the U.S. for the dissemination of knowledge.
12 AMERICAN PATRIOT
garden showcasing thousands of seasonal, tropical and subtropical plants.
The U.S. Capitol Building Here is where the House of Representatives and the Senate meet.
Department of Agriculture This was built in 1905 and designed by Rankin, Kellogg and Crane. This was the first building constructed after the decision to
National Museum of the American Indian The first national museum in the country dedicated exclusively to Native Americans.
rejuvenate the Mall.
CLICK HERE FOR A MAP AND WALKING TOUR OF THE NATIONAL MALL
AMERICAN PATRIOT 13
THE LEGEND OF
KNUTE ROCKNE
America has long had a love affair with Notre Dame football, the first major storied college sports program in the U.S., filled in its early years with wonderful traditions, glorious music, colorful characters and, most of all, unchallenged college football dominance. But in recent years, the magic has faltered. The Fighting Irish are mediocre and recently hired the sixth coach since 1996. This may be a good time, then, to take a look back at the renowned coach — Knute Rockne — who created both team and legend. Today Knute Kenneth Rockne is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history. A native of Norway, he grew up in Chicago playing football and running track. After Rockne finished high school, he took a job in the Chicago Post Office for four years to save enough money to go to college. At Notre Dame, he played football and was offered the coaching job upon graduation. As Notre Dame head coach for thirteen years, he won an unheard of 88 percent of the games as well as six national championships and five undefeated seasons. He coached some of the most famous players of the time such as George Gipp, Frank Leahy and feared the Four Horsemen. More than win, Rockne was an innovator: he introduced the “shift”, with the backfield lining up in a T-formation and then quickly shifting left or right just as the ball was snapped. He also popularized the forward pass, a seldom used play at the time. He was among the first to teach his linemen brush blocks, to break his team into smaller groups as a precursor of platoon football, and to employ “shock troops,” early-game substitutes who tried to wear down rivals. And he was a showman. Rockne spent much of his time promoting Notre Dame football, using his
charm on the media of the time to make the program a household name. He pushed the team to travel nationally to gain exposure and win fans. When the Irish played Army in 1921 a crowd of 20,000 watched, a West Point record. Soon, Rockne sought larger sites for the Army game, with the teams meeting at Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium. Notre Dame’s own field held just 3,000, but by 1930, Rockne’s last season, the school had a stadium seating 54,000. At the height of his fame, Rockne died in a plane crash in Kansas on his way to publicize a film about the college. He was 43. President Herbert Hoover called Rockne’s death “a national loss” and it has been likened to the impact that John Kennedy’s death had for a later generation. Actor Pat O’Brien played Rockne in the 1940 film, Knute Rockne, All American, while Ronald Reagan played George Gipp. The film has kept the legend alive. There have been many memorials including a 1998 postage stamp in his honor, at which thenPresident Reagan gave a speech. Rockne is also enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as a charter member. Meanwhile, the great expectations that Rockne created continue to be both a blessing and a curse for future teams and coaches.
SEE A MOVIE TRAILER OF KNUTE ROCKNE ALL-AMERICAN
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.” — SYDNEY J. HARRIS Longtime Chicago journalist and columnist, on the importance of voting
16 AMERICAN PATRIOT
THIS WEEK IN
AMERICAN HISTORY
2004. Boston Red Sox wins its first World Series since 1918, an historic 86-year drought. In so doing they lifted the alleged “Curse of the Bambino,” which was believed to plague them soon after they sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. AMERICAN PATRIOT 17
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