57: ATM

 

57 years ago today (September 2, 1969) the first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) was used in the United States.

It was only 2 months since the Americans put the first Men on the Moon and it was at a time when American Women had to have Male Permission for everything from Getting their Own Passport to opening a Bank Account.

Unmarried Women had to have their Father or Brother’s permission and Married Women had to have their Husband’s permission.

Chemical Bank (now part of JP Morgan) installed a prototype ATM in the US at its branch in Rockville Centre, New York.

 The first ATMs were designed to dispense a fixed amount of cash when a User inserted a specially coded card.

A Chemical Bank advertisement boasted "On Sept. 2 our Bank will open at 9:00 and never close again.”

ATMs turned Banking from a 9 am to 3 pm chore (at a time when 99% of Americans used cash to buy things) to a 24/7 service.

The only catch was that ATMs only accepted Cards from their own Bank.

It wasn’t until the late 1970s that you could use your Card in any ATM regardless of which Bank owned it.

There are currently 330,535 ATMs across the US and 4.2 Million around the World.

V-J Day

 

25: Canada

25 Years ago (September 11, 2001) during the Terrorist Attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in the Field in Pennsylvania Canada stood with the United States in many ways.

(Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada with 38 Airliners, totaling 6,122 Passengers and 473 Crew, as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon on 9-11-01.)

Not only did the Canadian Military help protect American Airspace under NORAD, but Canadian Airports took in Hundreds of Planes with Tens of Thousands of Passengers including Thousands of Americans that were headed towards the United States from Europe and Asia.

It was called Operation Yellow Ribbon (French: Opération ruban jaune.)

After the US FAA closed all of American Airspace at 9:45 Eastern Time Transport Canada enacted Operation Yellow Ribbon under SitCen.

The SitCen is Transport Canada's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC.)

As Personnel staffed the SitCen, key Organizations such as Nav Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) were also involved in SitCen Operations.

After learning that the FAA had closed down U.S. Airspace, David Collenette, the Canadian Transport Minister, gave orders that Canadian Airports be open only for outgoing Police, Military, and Humanitarian Flights, and incoming U.S. Bound International Flights that were passed the “point of no return” over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  

This was the first unplanned closure of Canadian Airspace.

SitCen focused on keeping in contact with every plane (to make sure there were no more Hijacked Planes), where to land all the Aircraft and how to deplane, screen and clear Tens of Thousands of Passengers through Canadian Immigration and Customs.

Planes were entering Canadian Airspace at a rate of 2 Planes every Minute.

238 Planes with 45,000 Passengers and Crew en-route to the United States were re-routed to 17 Canadian Airports.

Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada is the first North American Airport on the Transatlantic Flight Route.

Gander Airport took in 38 Wide-Body Airplanes with 6,122 Passengers and Crew.

The Total Population of Gander at the time was 9,000 People and there were only 500 Hotel Rooms in the City.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien stated that in the span of a few hours the Population of Gander jumped by more than 50%.

The People of Gander opened Schools, Community Centers and their Own Homes to house these Stranded People (including American.)

The People of Gander also donated Food, Clothes, Bedding, etc, to them.

Here are the other Canadian Airports that also took in American-Bound Airplanes:

Halifax International Airport in Nova Scotia handled 45 Flights

St. John's International Airport in Newfoundland handled 27 Flights

Winnipeg International Airport in Manitoba handled 15 Flights

Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario handled 14 Flights

Calgary International Airport in Alberta handled 13 Flights

Greater Moncton International Airport in New Brunswick handled 10 Flights

Montréal–Mirabel International Airport in Quebec handled 10 Flights

Stephenville International Airport in Newfoundland handled 13 Flights

Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay in Newfoundland handled 7 Flights

Montréal-Dorval International Airport in Quebec handled 7 Flights

Edmonton International Airport in Alberta handled 6 Flights

Hamilton International Airport in Ontario handled 4 Flights

Whitehorse International Airport in Yukon handled 2 Flights

Deer Lake Airport in Newfoundland handled 1 Flight

Yellowknife Airport in the Northwest Territories handled 2 Flights

Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia (the only major Canadian Airport on the West Coast capable of handling the large Aircraft used for Transpacific Flights took in 34 Planes with 8,500 Passengers and Crew.

After the Planes were diverted and landed and the Passengers and Crew were deplaned and went through Canadian Immigration and Customs the Canadians then had to house and feed all 45,000 Men, Women and Children.

Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Local Canadian Governments worked with Canadian Citizens to feed and house all 45,000 People for 5  days until they could go into the United States,

Operation Yellow Ribbon was the largest Emergency Operation in Civilian Aircraft History.

Canada did not have to endanger their own Citizens by allowing these Planes and People into their Country on 9-11.

They did it because they are a good, kind and caring People.

25 years later we should remember what the Canadians did for us Americans.

87: WW 2

 

85: Star of David

85 years ago today (September 1, 1941) the Germans required Jews in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia  to wear a Yellow Star of David with the German Word “Jude” for “Jew.”

(A Jewish Girl in German-Occupied Croatia forced to wear a Star of David with the Ž for “Židov”, English: “Jew” on it.)

Every Man, Woman and Child over the age of 6 had to buy these Badges (using their own Clothing Ration Coupons) and have them clearly visible on their outer clothing (including a coat) so that they could easily be identified and discriminated against for being Jewish.

When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 they required Jews there to wear a White Armband with a Blue Star of David for the same purpose.

(Jewish People in German-Occupied Belgium forced to wear the Star of David with the J (for "Jude" in German, "Juif" in French and "Jood" in Dutch.)

Parts of Poland had different Badges. In German-Occupied Warsaw Jews had to wear the Armband and in German-Occupied Lodz Jews had to wear the Yellow Star (because that part of Poland was illegally annexed into Germany.)

(A Jewish Man in German-Occupied Poland forced to wear the Star of David Armband.)

In every European and North African Country/Territory that Germany occupied during World War 2 the Jews there had to wear similar Identifying Badges with the local name for “Jew” on it (French: “Juif”, Dutch: “Jood”, Croatian: Ž for “Židov”, English: “Jew” for the British Channel Islands which Germany occupied, etc.)

Failure to not wear the Armband or the Star or to “hide it” and not have it clearly visible resulted in instant death.

This requirement was on top of every Jewish Man, Woman and Child having to carry an Identity Card with a large “J” on it – since 1938 in Germany and every German Jewish Man, Woman and Child having to add either “Israel” for Men or “Sara” for Women to their Names to be “more easily recognizable as Jews” – since 1936.

The Germans wanted to first identity the Jews and then to murder them.

84: Wiesbaden And Frankfurt

 

84 years ago today (August 27, 1942) the Germans Rounded-Up 600 Jewish Men, Women and Children  - most of them Elderly and Sick from Wiesbaden, Germany.

(The Germans deporting the Elderly Jewish Men and Women from Wiesbaden. Germany in August 1942.)

On August 29, 1942 they were sent to Frankfurt where another 600 Jewish Men, Women and Children were added to the Round-Up.

On September 1, 1942 they left by Train for the Theresienstadt Ghetto in German-Occupied Czechoslovakia.

Later most were deported from Theresienstadt to the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland.

Only 32 of the 1,200 from Wiesbaden and Frankfurt survived the War.

62: Mary Poppins

 

62 years ago today (August 27, 1964) “Mary Poppins” first came out in theaters.

It became the highest grossing Film of 1964 making $103 Million Dollars ($384 Million in 2026 Dollars.)

It received a total of 13 Academy Award Nominations—a record for any Film released by Walt Disney Studios—including Best Picture, and won 5: Best Actress for Andrews, Best Film Editing, Best Original Music Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Song for "Chim Chim Cher-ee".

Matthew Garber (Michael Banks) died in 1977.

David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks) died in 2000.

Glynis Johns (Mrs. Banks) died in 2024.

Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) will be 91 in October.

Dick Van Dyke (Bert) will be 101 in December.

A Sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns”, was released on December 19, 2018 - making it the longest interval between film Sequels in Cinematic History, at 54 years.

My Mom loved this movie and I used to watch it with her.

82: Auschwitz Photo

 

82 years ago today (August 25, 1944) an American Air Reconnaissance Plane flew over the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland.

It took pictures of the Camp from 30,000 feet.

29 Photographs were taken in total.

This one shows Auschwitz 2 (Auschwitz Birkenau) the Death Camp.

This Picture shows the Women’s Camp; the Guard Towers; the Main Camp Gate; a Cattle Car with 33 Wagons; Four of the Gas Chambers with the Crematoria as well as a burning pit behind Gas Chamber 5 where bodies were burned; a Group of newly arrived Prisoners are also seen going to the Admission Building to be shaved, showered and tattooed with a Camp Number.

At the bottom of the picture you can also see Men, Women and Children who just arrived and are walking to their death at the Gas Chamber.

The US didn’t bomb the Auschwitz Death Camp or even the Train Tracks (or any Death Camps.)

The US, British and Soviet Governments knew about the Death Camps – especially by August 1944 when this Photograph was taken – but chose not to do anything to help the Victims.

1.1 Million Men, Women and Children were murdered at Auschwitz alone.

110: NPS

 

110 years ago today (August 25, 1916), U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed what has become known as the “Organic Act.” This Act created what we know as the National Park Service (NPS).

The new Agency was tasked with a very important, and challenging, Mission Statement. It reads, in part, that the NPS is:

“...to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The NPS employs approximately 20,000 people in 425 individual units covering over 85 Million Acres in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.

As of 2022, they had more than 279,000 Volunteers.

The NPS received 327 Million Visitors in 2023.

82: Parade

(American Victory Parade in Paris, France – August 29, 1944.)

82 years ago today (August 25, 1944) Paris was liberated from the Germans.

2,000 Parisian Civilians were killed during the Liberation of Paris.

1,600 French Resistance Members were killed.

130 Free French Soldiers were killed.

The 2nd Armored Division suffered 71 killed and 225 wounded.

12,800 Germans became Prisoners of War.

10,000 Parisians who had Collaborated (French Women had their heads shaved) with the Germans were arrested and tried, 8,000 were convicted, and 116 were executed by the Allies after the War.

General Dietrich von Choltitz was sent to London, England where he stayed for the remainder of the War and then he was transferred to Camp Clinton in Mississippi, USA until his release in 1947. He died in 1966.

General Charles de Gaulle became Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic from June 1944 until January 1946 then the French Prime Minister from 1958-1959 and then the French President from 1959-1969. He died in 1970.

“Is Paris Burning” is a 1966 Film that shows the Liberation of Paris (blending acting with archival footage.

82: Paris

82 years ago today (August 25, 1944) Paris, France was liberated from German Occupation by the Americans, the British and the Free French during World War 2.

(As Allied Troops enter Paris on August 25, 1944, celebrating crowds on place De La Concorde scatter for cover from small bands of remaining German Snipers.)

Paris had been occupied by the Germans since June 14, 1940. A Curfew was in effect from 9 pm in until 5 am and at night, the City of Light went dark.

Rationing of food, tobacco, coal and clothing was initiated in September 1940. Every year the supplies grew scarcer and the prices higher. The French Press and Radio Broadcast only German Propaganda.

Jews in Paris were forced to wear the Yellow Star of David Badge and were barred from Professions and Public Places.

On July 16-17, 1942, 13,152 Parisian Jews, including 4,115 Children, were rounded up by the French Police, on orders of the Germans, and were sent to the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland (of the 76,000 French Jews deported from France.)

Following the Allied Invasion of Normandy on June, 6, 1944, the French Resistance in Paris launched an Uprising on August 19th, seizing the Police Headquarters and other Government Buildings.

On August 7, 1944 , Dietrich von Choltitz was appointed the Military Governor of the Garrison of "Greater Paris" (Groβ Paris) with 20,000 German Soldiers in Paris.

The French Resistance in Paris had 19,000 Members , but only 60 hand guns, a few machine guns, and no heavy weapons.

On August 20th Barricades were erected across Paris by the French Resistance and Ordinary Parisians. Fighting broke out between the French Resistance and the Germans from August 20th to 25th when the Resistance was joined by the Free French and the Americans.

General von Choltitz had been ordered by Hitler to leave the city a "heap of burning ruins", but he also realized the battle was lost, and he did not want to be captured by the Resistance.

Through the offices of the Swedish Consul-General, Raoul Nordling, he ignored Hitler's orders and arranged a truce. In the afternoon of the 25th he traveled from his Headquarters in the Hôtel Meurice to the Montparnasse Train Station, the Headquarters of General Leclerc, where he signed the Surrender.

The Occupation of Paris was officially over.

General Charles de Gaulle held his Free French Victory Parade in Paris on August 26, 1944.

America held its Victory Parade in Paris on August 29, 1944.

35: More World

 

35: America

As an American and someone who still believes in Democracy I fully-support Ukraine against Russia today (Ukraine's 35th Independence Day) and always!

35: World

The World honors Ukraine's fight over Russia on Ukraine's 35th Independence Day today!

35: Simpsons

 

Even "The Simpsons" support Ukraine on Ukrainian Independence Day today.

Ukraine

 

Today (August 24th) is Ukrainian Independence Day (Ukrainian: День Незалежності України.)

It marks the Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991.

On December 1, 1991 the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics held an Independence Referendum where 92.3% of those with Ukrainian Nationality on their Soviet-Issued Mandatory Internal Passports voted in favor of an Independent Ukraine.

Poland and Canada were the first Countries to recognize Ukrainian Independence on December 2, 1991.

The United States recognized Ukraine’s Independence on December 25, 1991 (after the Soviet Union Collapsed.)

In 1991, for the first time ever, Ukraine became an independent Country.

77: Shelley Long

 

35: Monument

35 Years of Ukrainian Independence

For Ukrainian Independence Day tomorrow (August 24, 1991) the Motherland Monument in Kyiv launched a five-minute audiovisual art installation titled "The Future Remembers."

The Project tells the story of Ukrainian History and Identity through light, symbols, and music.

During the projection, the Monument displayed changing images that reference various periods in the History of Ukraine, including Cossack embroidery, Crimean Tatar ornaments, and motifs of Greek, Scythian, and Slavic cultures.

35: DC

 

Today, Washington, DC turned blue and yellow as Ukrainians and Americans gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991  -35 years ago tomorrow.

35: Canada First

Canada was the Western Country to recognize Ukraine’s Independence from the Soviet Union on December 2, 1991.

Soviet Russia (the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic) also recognized t=Ukraine’s Independence on that day.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) did not recognize Ukraine’s Independence.

The United States recognized Ukraine’s Independence on December 25, 1991 (the day the Soviet Union collapsed.

 The United Kingdom recognized Ukraine’s Independence on December 31, 1991 long after the USSR was disbanded.

35 years ago tomorrow (August 24, 1991) declared it’s Independence from the Soviet Union which had occupied the eastern and central parts of Ukraine since 1922 and the western part of Ukraine since 1945.