The 'Iron Curtain' Descends in 1946-- Winston Churchill

I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?).  The Cold War.

MARCH 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips.  I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.

--Cold War Coot

A Lot Happened Today-- Part 1: USMC Birthday I Presume

Happening on November 10th:

1775--  The U.S. marines were organized under authority of the Continental Congress.

1871--  Journalist-explorer Henry Stanley found Scottish missionary David Livingston in Africa.

1919--  The American Legion held its first convention in Minneapolis.

1938--  Kate Smith first sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on her CBS radio program.

1941--  Winston Churchill delivered a speech in London in which he said, "I have not become the King's First Minister to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire."

1954--  The Iwo Jima Memorial, inspired by the famous Associated Press photograph of the Marines raising the U.S. flag over Mount Suribachi during World War II, was dedicated by President Dwight Eisenhower in Arlington, Virginia.  Marine birthday, you know.

And Some More.  --DaCoot

"...So Much Owed By So Many to So Few."

August 21st ABC News.

August 20, 1940, marked the 70th anniversary of one of Winston Churchill's most famous speeched thanking the RAF fighter pilots for their gallant service defending the homeland during the Battle of Britain.

Several former RAF World War II Spitfire pilots and thousands of others gathered in front of the old wartime cabinet rooms and the replica of a Spitfire to commemorate that speech. The pilots are in their 80s and 90s.

From July to October 1940, these valiant few battles huge numbers of German aircraft intent on destroying England and London especially.

A Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft did a fly-past.

The speech also honored British bombers who were attacking German positions over the Channel.

"The gratitude of every home...goes out to British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Quite a set of words.

Well-Done Winston and RAF. --Cooter

One Slightly Used Cigar

The Nov. 21st Mirror.co.uk had an article "Cigar Winston Churchill chomped planning D-Day uncovered after 60 years,"

Christian Williams, 33, was given a cigar when he was 12 by his grandfather Ronald Williams, who acted as Winston Churchill's butler at the 1943 Casablanca Conference where D-Day was planned.

Since then, Christian has always kept it in a safe place, only taking it out on special occasions. His grandfather also kept Churchill's name plate from the conference.

Churchill smoked ten cigars a day, always leaving the last couple inches. His gardener would take the cigars and break them up so he could smoke them in his pipe.

Definitely the Kind Of History That Interests Me. --DaCoot