This Day In History

July 12th. A marvelous day in the year. Why? Because today is my birthday and on this ever so joyous occasion let's see what today is the anniversary of and who was also born on this day.

We begin in the year 1812 with the War of 1812. It is nothing very interesting because the battle was not won nor lost on this day. However, the US did invade a part of a country that I have been to many times, specifically this part of the country. Windsor, Ontario in Canada! What a day that would've been if I had been in Patrick O'Ryans drinking a Strongbow and the US forces stormed in.


Also on this day the US Congress authorized the Medal of Honor in 1862. The highest military decoration awarded by the US:



"It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself "…conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his/her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States…"

Members of all branches of the U.S. military are eligible to receive the medal, and each service has a unique design with the exception of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, which both use the Navy's medal. The Medal of Honor is often presented personally to the recipient or, in the case of posthumous awards, to survivors, by the President of the United States. Due to its high status, the medal has special protection under U.S. law.

We move ahead to 1933 and another Congressional decision is made. This time they pass the first law of Minimum Wage making it illegal to pay less than 33 cents an hour. Thanks to the new 2007 act on minimum wage passed in May the new minimum wage as of July 24, 2007 will be $5.35 an hour. Quite the difference huh? On the same day in 2008 the wage will move to $6.55 and in 2009 the wage will max out (for this bill at least) at $7.25 an hour.

Now that we've looked back at history in terms of events, let us look at who else was born on this grandest of days:

Julius Caesar - The Roman military and political leader (100 B.C. - 44 B.C.)
Henry David Thoreau - Amazing American writer and philosopher (1817-1862)
George Washington Carver - American botanist (1864-1943)
Milton Berle - American comedian known as "Mr. Television" (1908-2002)
Curly Joe Derita - American comedian/actor once a member of the Three Stooges (1909-1993)
Bill Cosby - American comedian and actor (1937)
Topher Grace - American actor known forever as Eric Forman on That 70's Show (1978)
Michelle Rodriguez - American actress and all around mega hottie (1979)

Fellow readers I appreciate your time in sharing this marvelous day with me and all these people listed above, both past and present. Have a wonderful day and we'll do this again next year!