Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was established by the Federal Government thirty years ago to celebrate the many contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders to the history and culture of the United States.
We all know how to celebrate Mother’s Day - with gifts of cards, candy and flowers. But, did you ever wonder why we celebrate Mother’s Day? Our yearly shout out to Mom is the result of the tireless efforts of a devoted daughter, Anna M.
Billy Collins, U. S. Poet Laureate and the “most popular poet in America,” according to New York Times columnist Bruce Weber, wrote: “I’m a great believer in poetry out of the classroom, in public places, on subways, trains, on cocktail napkins. I’d rather have my poems on the subway than around the seminar table at an MFA program.” His argument that poetry is everywhere and that it is accessible to everyone is one of the reasons this literary form will always be an integral part of our lives and culture.
Sixty years ago, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring alerted us to the devastating impact of pesticides on the natural world. Her book was a wake up call, the spark that ignited the modern environmental movement. Silent Spring not only led to the 1972 banning of DDT but resulted in new government policies to safeguard our air and water. Eight years after the publication of Silent Spring, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time on April 22, 1970, by more than 20 million Americans passionately committed to protecting our planet.
Ah, March. Hope for the best, expect the worst. In this unpredictable month, anticipation often results in disappointment as winter refuses to say goodbye. On the other hand, March is an eventful month, containing the first day of spring, Daylight Savings Time and St. Patrick’s Day. But did you know that Read an EBook Week occurs in the first full week of March? This year we celebrate the convenience and ease of ebooks from March 6-March 12.
In 1987, Congress designated March as National Women’s History Month. Each year, the President issues a special Proclamation in recognition of the enormous contributions of women to every aspect of American life and culture, often while enduring great hardship and sacrifice. For Women’s History Month 2022, The National Women’s History Alliance is honoring caregivers and frontline workers.