November 11, 2022 is Veterans Day. The federal the holiday honors the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This includes anyone who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day. Both honor the American army. But they serve different purposes. Remembrance Day commemorates American soldiers who died in war. Veterans Day Celebrates All American Servicemen Veterans.

US President Woodrow Wilson established Armistice Day—as it was then called—November 11, 1919. It was a day for honor First World War soldiers. The date marked the first anniversary of November 11, 1918, cease fire Agreement or armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany. This led to the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war on June 28, 1919. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to include soldiers who fought in World War II (1939 – 1945) and the Korean War (1950 – 1953).

Veterans Day continued to be observed on November 11 until the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968. The law was passed to allow Americans to enjoy three-day weekends. It changed the dates of four federal holidays to one predetermined Monday. They include Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. This bill moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. But due to date history importancemany states continued to observe Veterans Day on November 11.

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford ended the confusion by changing Veterans Day to its original Date. The law came into force in 1978. Since then, the holiday has always been celebrated on November 11. Many other countries have also honor their soldiers on November 11. France and New Zealand still call this holiday Armistice Day. The UK, Australia and Canada call it Remembrance Day. Malta and South Africa celebrate it as Poppy Day.

There are many ways to enjoy the brave American servicemen on this special day. Participate in your city or town’s Veterans Day Parade. Invite veterans in your family or piece for a meal and learn about their experiences. You can also deliver nearby food and supplies veteran center. Better yet, spend time reading or chatting with soldiers too old or injured to leave their homes.

Happy Veterans Day!

Resources: History.com, VA.gov

Few countries celebrate Halloween like with enthusiasm than the United States (US). Children and adults spend months – and millions of dollars – searching for the perfect costume. Many families decorate homes and front yards with spooky skeletons and jack-o-lanterns. How all this fun customs begin? Continue reading.

Trick-Or-Treating

Halloween’s most expensive tradition – deceive or treat – is credited at the feast of All Saints’ Day in Rome. On this day, the poor would visit the rich and offer prayer for their dead. They received in return a spicy treat called “soul cake”. The tradition changed in Ireland and Scotland when children in fancy dress began to be given treats to sing or play a sketch. Immigrants from both countries brought the fun custom to the United States in the early 19th century. The rest, as they say, is history!

Why Candy?

Most people give out candy during Halloween. But in the middle of the 20th century, children also received fruits, nuts, coins and even small toys. In the 1950s, confectionery companies introduced small, individually wrapped chocolates during Halloween. Although it helped boost sales, candy really took off in the 1970s after parents were afraid their children would accept unwrapped candies.

Today, over 600 million pounds of candy are sold in the United States on Halloween! That’s an average of 24 pounds per American. In 2022, American consumers will spend an estimated $3.1 billion on candy! While each state has its own favoritesthe at national scale the winner is Reese’s Cups. Skittles and M&M’s complete the top three.

Jack-O-Lanterns

No Halloween is complete without a spooky or friendly pumpkin lantern. The funny custom can be attributed to the Irish. They initially used turnips or beets for their macabre creations. However, after arriving in America, immigrants switched to pumpkins. The readily available fall fruits were much easier to prune.

Black and orange decor

Black and orange are the colors of choice during Halloween. The custom dates back to the 2000 year old Celtic festival of Samhain. Observed every November 1 in what is now modern Ireland, it marked the end of the to harvest season and the onset of winter. Orange represented the fall harvest season, while the black illustrated the “death” of summer.

Resources: history.com, candystore.com, wikipedia.org

In 1905, water from the Colorado River flowed through a irrigation canal and flooded a dry lake bed called the Salton Sink in Southern California. The floods continued for two years, creating a perfect 400 square mile lake. The Salton Sea, as it was called, became for a moment holidays hotspot. Its sandy beaches and warm waters attract millions of visitors every year. Filled with fish from the Colorado River, it also attracted migratory birds looking for food in the desert.

But Salton Sea’s popularity was short-lived. Once the watering channel was fixed, the only source of water for the lake was agricultural runoff from nearby farms. This, combined with rising temperatures and the Californian temperature prolonged drought, caused the Salton Sea to shrink of 38 square miles since 2003. Under running conditions, the lake will lose three quarters of its water by 2030.

In addition, the water that remains is salty and full of toxic algal blooms. The lack of oxygen in the water killed all the fish. Worse still, the lake’s increasingly dusty bed contains harmful chemicals from agricultural runoff. Dust particles carried by the windy winds, create serious health problems for area residents.

California has set aside millions of dollars to restore Lake. But finding a solution turned out elusive. A proposal filling the lake with salt water from the Sea of ​​Cortez in Mexico was recently denied. Experts believe this would be costly and harmful to the environment. Instead, they suggest building a desalination plant to reduce salt levels in the lake. They also want farmers to stop planting crops in the area. This will allow water from the Colorado River to reach the Salton Sea.

“I would like to see this lake full of water, but it is not feasible“, said Frank Ruiz, director of the Salton Sea program. “The solution is for communitieswater districts, and environmental groups to find common ground and protect it.”

Resources: Gizmodo.com, Cnbc.com, USAtoday.com

Every fall, more than a billion Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world celebrate Diwali. The five-day festival, which commemorates the triumph good over evil, is India’s greatest festival. The ancient the date of the festival is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and differs every year. This year, Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, as it is also called, will be observed from October 22 to October 26.

The fun begins with Dhanteras, a day dedicated to deities of wealth. The occasion is marked with prayers for the prosperity, success and well-being of loved ones. Many people also decorate the entrances to their homes and businesses with colorful lanterns and traditional temporary designs, or “rangoli”. Making a purchase that day is considered auspiciousand watchers often gift each other beautiful jewelry, clothing, or household items.

The second day of the festival is called Kali Chaudas, or Narak Chaturdashi. For some it’s a day to drive away demons or the evil spirits of the houses with traditional rituals. Others regard it as “Choti (small) Diwali” and use it as an excuse to start the celebrations early with feasts and fireworks. Regardless of their beliefs, everyone looks forward to Diwali on the third day.

Diwali celebrations start early with a visit to a place of worship, such as a temple. Families and friends meet to exchange gifts and treats. As the sun sets, watchers around the world light up their homes with glittering small oil lamps, or “diyas”, and share a delicious meal with your loved ones. For residents of India, the real fun begins late in the evening when everything neighborhoods take to the streets to light up the sky with colorful fireworks. The spectacular the show continues until every last firecracker has gone off.

There are many folklore associated with the ancient festival. Some believe that the people of Ayodhya first celebrated Diwali to mark the return of King Rama, his wife Sita and his 14-year-old brother Lakshmana. exile commissioned by the king’s mother. Others believe the celebration marked the taming of an angry goddess who had run amok threatens annihilate every living creature on Earth.

For the residents in western Indian states, such as Gujarat, Diwali marks the end of the calendar year. On October 25, 2022, they will welcome the first day of the year 2079. The 57-year-old difference between Hindu and Gregorian calendar is due to their use of shortcuts lunar rounds. In the northern states of India, the fourth day is reserved for honor the Hindu god Krishna. The fifth and final day of the festival celebrates the obligation between brothers and sisters. It is marked with prayers and more delicious food.

For children in India, Diwali is similar at Christmas. In addition to a week off from school, they are also entitled to gifts, new clothes, good food and fireworks. It’s no wonder that the festival ranks among the best in the country favorite celebrations.

Resources: nationalgeographic.com, livelearn.ca, wikipedia.org, history.com

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disease disability in children. The condition, which affected about 1 in 345 children can make daily activities like walking, eating or even lifting a cup difficult. A team of researchers from the University of California at Riverside (UCR) hopes to relieve the daily struggles with robotic clothing that will allow children with cerebral palsy to better control their arm movements.

Portable robotic units, such as exoskeletonsto help people mobility the problems have existed for many years. However, they are rigid and uncomfortable to wear. The UCR team plans to use lightweight materials to create a cheap, durable, and most importantly, robotic sleeve comfortable to wear everyday.

“Hard materials interact well with humans,” said Jonathan Realmuto, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UCR and project leader. “What we are aiming for by using materials like nylon and elastic are essentially robotic clothing.”

The scientists consider robotic sleeves to have sealed areas that can be swollen. Once filled with air, they would become temporarily rigid and provide the necessary force for movement. The clothes will be equipped with sensors at detect small muscle contractions and to anticipate what the wearer wants to do. The swollen the bladders will then help move the arm to complete the intended stock.

“If we can help children brush their teeth, pour water or open doors, actions that others take for granted, that’s a huge win for them,” Realmuto said in a statement. Press release. “But it’s also a huge win for their families and caregivers.”

UCR engineers aren’t the only ones working on soft robotic clothing to help motor people disabled. San Francisco-based startup CIONIC is on equal footing assignment. The company’s first product, the CIONIC Neural Sleeve, is designed to improve mobility for people with conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Jeremiah Robison, the founder of CIONIC, was inspired to develop the product after watching his daughter battle cerebral palsy.

Resources: eandt.theiet.org, engadget.com.

Columbus Day, which honors the arrival of the Italian explorer on October 12, 1492 in the Americas has been a US federal holiday since 1971. However, the holiday, marked annually on the second Monday in October (October 10 of this year), has always summer controversial. Many believe that the mistreatment inflicted by European settlers on Native Americans was not a cause of Party.

Historians also claim that Christopher Columbus did not “discover” the continent. The native people lived in the Americas long before he arrived. Nor is he the first European to set foot in North America. A Norse explorer named Leif Erikson set up the first European settlement in Greenland in 980 AD – nearly 500 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

Some US states, such as Oregon, Iowa and Nebraska, have never recognized Columbus Day. Hawaii renamed it “Discoverers Day” — honor of the state’s Polynesian founders – in 1971, while South Dakota changed it to “Native American Day” in 1990. controversial increased, many American schools and universities have ceased observe vacations.

In 1977, a delegation Indigenous Nations — at the International NGO Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas — offers rename the holiday “Indigenous Peoples Day”. They believed the change would help honor the victims of American colonization. The resolution was passed with a overwhelming majority.

Berkeley, CA was the first city to make the switch in 1992. Santa Cruz, CA followed soon after in 1994. The idea really started to gain traction momentum after 2014. That year, Minneapolis, MN, Grand Rapids, MN, and Seattle, WA renamed Columbus Day “Indigenous Peoples Day”. Since then, more than 100 cities and entire states, including Alaska and Oregon, have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day.

In 2020, Colorado replaced Columbus Day with Cabrini Day in honor of Frances Xavier Cabrini. The Italian-American Catholic nun helped implement more than 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages, in the United States and in South and Central America. In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first sitting US president to issue a presidential proclamation marking Indigenous Peoples Day. This encouraged Americans to celebrate the holiday on the second Monday in October, along with Columbus Day.

But not everyone thinks a name change is necessary. For Italian Americans, Columbus Day is the master piece Italian Heritage Month, celebrated every October. They argue that the holiday honors the history of immigration, not the explorer. Therefore, they think the name should be kept or replaced with something more appropriatesuch as Italian Heritage Day.

Resources: History.com, Wikipedia.org, CNN.com, Interchange.com

A gentle giant from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has set a Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest living person domestic cat. Fenrir Powers measured a Impressive 18.83 inches on January 29, 2021. Two-year-old cat Savannah, achievement has been revealed in the Guinness World Records 2023 edition, released September 13, 2022.

Savannah cats are a cross between domestic cats and big-eared African wild cats. Measuring between 14 and 17 inches tall, they are the tallest and one of the largest cat breeds. But Fenrir, who is an inch taller, is exceptionally tall even for his breed. “He just grew and grew like Clifford the big red dog,” Fenrir owner Dr. Will Powers said in a chat video.

Dr. Powers adopted Fenrir when he was only 12 weeks old. The happy owner says the intelligent cat uses its size for its advantage. “When we were trying to take pictures of him, we had to exclude some of the other cats from the room, and Fenrir decided he didn’t want to be in the room anymore,” he recalled. “So he stood on his behind legs and I opened the door.”

When he’s not breaking records, Fenrir spends his time helping anxious patients at the clinic. Powers said, “He walks around the office getting hugs from people, dozing on the exam room tables and begging for treats.”

Fenrir is not the only one celebrity in the Powers’ house. The doctor’s other famous cats include Altair Powers and Cygnus Powers – the current and previous Guinness World Record Holders for the longest tail of a living domestic cat. at Fenrir late his brother Arcturus Powers, who holds the Guinness World Record for tallest domestic cat of all time, was also a pet. UnfortunatelyCygnus and Arcturus died in a house fire in 2017.

Resources: Guinnessworldrecords.com, USAtoday.com, Cbsnews.com

Pacific Northwest archons in the Greek Orthodox metropolis of San Francisco welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on his first trip to the region, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and His Grace the ‘Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea (Chancellor of the Metropolis), during a lunch Saturday, September 24, 2022. The hierarchs were visiting to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Demetrios Church in Seattle, WA.

After a doxology at the Church of the Assumption in Seattle, lunch was held in that parish’s community center with regional clergy, parish council and leaders from Philoptochos, other guests, and archons from Seattle and Portland, as well as spouses.

Archbishop Elpidophoros offered the invocation, and the three Archons of Seattle, Clifford Argue, Paul Plumis, and John T. John, welcomed everyone, made introductions, and provided a brief explanation of “What is an archon?”

After a delicious lunch of Pacific Northwest salmon, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, addressing the Archbishop, said that the Archons of the Pacific Northwest “are all devoted stewards of the church who have offered themselves in so many ways, and are ardent defenders of the faith and supporters”. of the Mother Church. We just prayed the doxology and indeed we are grateful to God for this opportunity to be together and to have Greek Orthodox worshipers from all over the greater Seattle area – and beyond – to be here and show our love and respect to Your Eminence on your first Archpastoral Visit to the Pacific Northwest. There is no greater power than our common prayer as we have done today, praising the Lord with one heart and one voice.

Archon John T. John noted that training young men to become priests at the Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA is critically important to the future of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Prof. A. Homer Demopulos, of blessed memory, was the senior proistamenos of St. Demetrios for 25 years, a quarter of the parish’s existence. Upon his untimely death in 1993, his family established the “Rev. Pr. A. Homer and Presvytera Artemis Demopulos Scholarship Fund” to support third- and fourth-year students who are committed to being ordained upon graduation. To help this worthy cause, the Archons of the Pacific Northwest along with several other friends of St. Demetrios contributed a special gift presented to the Archbishop in the form of a check for $17,000 to be applied to the scholarship fund Demopulos at Holy Cross.

After thanking the Archons for arranging the scholarship, Bishop Elpidophoros said, “Whenever I find myself in the company of the Order of St. Andrew, our beloved and deeply cherished body of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate here in America, I feel tremendous pride and great happiness.

His Eminence continued, “You Archons, however, voluntarily take up the cross of the Martyric Church of Constantinople, and you walk the path following the Lord Himself in the wake of our spiritual father of all, His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

For this, then, and for so much more, I express to you all my deepest gratitude. For someone born in Constantinople – like me – it is indeed very gratifying to see your devotion and dedication as Archons of the Throne here in Seattle, even though you are almost halfway across the world from Queen of Cities. Nevertheless, you seamlessly connect and transcend this vast geographic distance through your unyielding pursuits and unwavering efforts on behalf of Mother Church.

And so, in an expression of thanks, love and appreciation, I would like to raise my glass to you this afternoon. May you always prosper in your lives and be blessed in your families and loved ones.

Lunch was generously provided by Archon Pacific Northwest Regional Commander Isidoros and Maria Garifalakis. Special thanks also go to the Proistamenos of the Church of the Assumption and Vicar of the Metropolitan North West, Fr. Dean Kouldukis, the parish council of the Assumption and Philoptochos, and the Ginos family.

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Alabama —

For some, it may seem careless to crawl through the flames and save someone you’ve never met. It can seem daunting to hoist tools through a window you’ve just climbed into using a single ladder with flames and smoke all around.

Being in charge of lives and mitigating tasks in a chaotic environment can distress the average person. However, the 908th Airlift Wing is not looking for the average.

If you possess a stellar attitude coupled with a desire to serve and protect, then you should consider becoming a Fire Protection Specialist (Air Force Specialty Code 3E7X1), with the 908th Civil Engineer Squadron.

To become a fire protection specialist or firefighter for the U.S. Air Force, you must first meet basic entry requirements and complete 7.5 weeks of basic training and 68 days of technical training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

“For someone interested in this career field, I would say come mentally prepared,” said Senior Airman Coryan Carter, 908 CES firefighter. “About 80% of firefighters knowingly find themselves in dangerous situations and don’t let stress overwhelm you.”

Generally, a firefighter’s priority is to protect people, property and the environment from fires and disasters. They could deal with anything from bushfires to hazmat fires to emergency first aid to casualties. They also perform a significant amount of training, study, and administrative work such as writing incident reports, keeping abreast of policy and protocol changes, reviewing fire prevention plans, or taking development for promotions.

Firefighters are expected to know a wealth of information relating to the area and their respective fire departments. They should be familiar with their department’s mission, security requirements and objectives, as well as the internal rank structure and incident command system. In addition, they must know the proper use of equipment, fire hose apparatus, safety ladder procedures, forcible entry and ventilation tactics, and the proper wearing of protective equipment. Individual protection.

Firefighters are also trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation rescue, basic emergency medical technician skills, and other means of rescue. Some examples where this training may be necessary are traffic incidents, gas leaks, elevator malfunctions, or aircraft fires. Although the priority of a firefighter is to protect people, property and the environment, this would not be possible if the firefighters had not prepared in advance.

On a typical day when firefighters aren’t responding to a call, they can inspect and maintain their equipment, vehicles, and PPE, ensuring they’ll be able to execute the mission when the time comes. Routine checks help firefighters track inventory and what needs fixing or cleaning around the fire station.

“One of the biggest responsibilities as a firefighter is to check the truck,” Carter said. “It is vital to our work that we have sufficient water supplies, enough gas and equipment that works as it is supposed to, to avoid unnecessary hazards on the premises. It’s a small thing that many people may not think about, but it’s crucial.

Firefighters also engage with the local community, providing information and safety demonstrations, or promoting awareness, safety and fire prevention.

To access this specialty, a secondary school diploma with courses in chemistry, general sciences and mathematics is desirable. Some useful attributes to possess are discipline, stamina, and a sense of motivation to perform each operation.

“I believe joining the military as a firefighter gives an invaluable resource to start a career because of the knowledge, certifications and training you receive,” said Senior Master Sgt. 908 CES Fire Chief Aaron Bebernitz. “When we all put on this uniform, we are serving the same country, fighting the same enemy and all united as one.”

If you are interested in a part-time career with full-time benefits as a Reserve Citizen Airman with the 908th Airlift Wing, please contact our recruiting staff at 334-953-6737.