Today is...

Leif Erikson Day

It’s Leif Erikson Day! Leif Erikson, the son of Erik the Red, was the first European to land in North America. According to The Sagas of Icelanders, a historical account from the 10th and 11th centuries, he established a Norse settlement in Newfoundland, Canada around the year 1001—more than 400 years before Christopher Columbus was born!

Leif Erikson was only twenty-four years old at the time of his voyage. After rescuing an Icelandic castaway and his crew he was nicknamed Leif the Lucky.

In 1964, the United States Congress declared October 9 Leif Erikson Day in honor of this historical Viking. Share your knowledge about Leif Erikson with others and celebrate his important role in the history of North America!

Today is also  World Post Day

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

 

This week is Fire Prevention Week & World Space Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for October 9   1781 - The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place in Yorktown, VA. The American forces, led by George Washington, defeated the British troops under Lord Cornwallis. 1855 - Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor. 1872 - Aaron Montgomery started his mail order business with the delivery of the first mail order catalog. The firm later became Montgomery Wards. 1888 - The public was admitted to the Washington Monument for the first time. 1967 - Doc Severinsen replaced Skitch Henderson as musical director of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." 1974 - Oskar Schindler died in Frankfurt, Germany. Schindler is credited with saving the lives of about 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. 2000 - Brett Hull (Dallas Stars) scored his 611th NHL goal. The goal allowed him to pass his father, Bobby Hull, on the all time scoring list bringing him to number 9. _________________________________________________________ "Nothing succeeds like success." --Alexandre Dumas