September 8, 2023. The newly formed monster hurricane churning in the Atlantic is predicted to miss Florida. That’s sufficient reason to be grateful this morning. Category 5 hurricane wind speed is 157 mph. Florida dodges another bullet. Today’s holidays are International Literacy Day, National 401 (k) Day, National Ampersand Day, National Date Nut Bread Day, Pardon Day, Star Trek Day, Stand Up to Cancer Day, and World Physical Therapy Day. On this day in 1504 Michelangelo’s statue of David was unveiled in Florence. This is the day in 1565 that the 1st permanent European settlement in the US was founded at St. Augustine, Florida. On this day in 1892 the “Pledge of Allegiance” was published in “The Youth Companion”. It was written by socialist minister Francis Bellamy, did not contain the words “of the United States of America” would be added by Congress in 1954. On this day in 1900 a hurricane and tidal wave hit Galveston, Texas killing 6,000. On this day in 1914 private Thomas Highgate became the 1st British soldier to be executed for desertion during WWI. He was 19 years old. Had been a farm laborer, had served in the Navy, survived two shipwrecks, caught Yellow Fever in Africa, had enlisted in the Army and deserted during the Battle of Mons in which 7,800 British soldiers died. Of interest to me is the fact that the two British officers who, on the same day, attempted to surrender their battalions to the enemy were only discharged. On tis day in 1941 the Siege of Leningrad began. The battle lasted over 28 months and cost the lives of over 1.5 million Russians. On this day in 1952 Hemingway’s novel ‘the old Man and the Sea” was published. In 1960 on this day the movie “Psycho” was released. Today’s quotes are provided by the recently deceased singer songwriter Don Williams who said, “I don’t believe heaven waits for only those who congregate.” “What we aspire to be is more than what we are yet less than what we are capable of.” “I don’t believe virginity is common as it used to be.” “Our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Abide.
