NATIONAL DAY OF THE DEPLOYED
On October 26th, National Day of the Deployed annually honors the United States military personnel deployed around the globe.
#DayOfTheDeployed
The designation recognizes all of the brave military personnel who have been deployed, are sacrificing, or have sacrificed their lives to defend our country. It also acknowledges their families who are separated from them during deployment and the sacrifices they make in order for their family members to serve our country.
HOW TO OBSERVE DAY OF THE DEPLOYED
Many deployed troops leave their families behind to serve their country. They make the greatest sacrifices to keep their country secure. A few ways to recognize their services include:
- Donate to a military organization like the USO. They support troops in the U.S. and overseas. The USO also provides support to the families before, during and after service.
- Send care packages. Visit Support Out Troops to find out what and where to send care packages worldwide.
- Locally, attend ceremonies honoring the military.
- Volunteer your time and services to local military organizations.
- If you know a military family, ask what support they need. Needs vary by family. Some just need to hear from home and know they are in your thoughts.
- Offer to support military personnel who have no family. They deploy with no one back home to send care packages or other support.
Use #DayOfTheDeployed to post on social media.
NATIONAL DAY OF DEPLOYED HISTORY
Shelle Michaels Aberle founded National Day of the Deployed in 2006. Ms. Aberle approached then North Dakota Governor John Hoeven for support of a North Dakota Proclamation for the day. Governor Hoeven was the first governor in the United States to recognize deployed troops in a formal proclamation.
Aberle’s cousin, Bottineau ND native, David Hosna, was a deployed Major in the US Army for the first Day of the Deployed. Aberle chose October 26th as it was Hosna’s Birthday. He later retired as a Colonel.
- Grand Forks, North Dakota hosted the first event and honored the NDARNG 1-188th ADA SECFOR and JLENS deployed to Afghanistan.
- In 2011, Senator John Hoeven led the efforts and co-sponsored S.RES.295 for a national day of honor. On October 18, 2011, the resolution passed unanimously for the first national day honoring deployed troops and their families.
- As of 2012, all 50 states observed National Day of the Deployed.
October 26th Celebrated History
1785
George Washington receives the first male donkey in the U.S. as a gift from King Charles III of Spain.
1825
Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York officially opens the Erie Canal. The canal took more than two years to dig. Connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, the 425-mile stretch of man-made waterway carried products all along its path. Two years later the Erie Canal would be connected to the Wabash Canal creating the largest canal system in the United States.
1858
Hamilton Smith invents an improved washing machine that rotates and includes slots that carry dirt particles away from the clothes. The inventional also adds a heating element to circulate warm water through the vessel.
1917
The International Women’s Bowling Congress hosts its first meeting in St. Louis, MO.
1970
Garry Trudeau debuts his Doonesbury comic strip in 26 newspapers across the country.
1972
Inventor Edwin Land introduces the Polaroid SX 70 in a presentation at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, FL. The camera is the first to easily produce instant images.
1977
Ali Maow Maalin is diagnosed with smallpox – the last known person in the world to be diagnosed with the disease. Smallpox is the only disease in history to be eradicated. Maalin dedicated the rest of his life to eradicating another disease – polio – a goal the world is close to achieving.
1984
Starring Arnold Swartzeneger and directed by James Cameron, The Terminator is released in the United States. The apocalyptic film where machines take over the world created a 5-film franchise.
October 26th Celebrated Birthdays
C.W. Post – 1854
The American industrialist was a pioneering force behind the production of cereals and other prepared foods. In 1895, he produced his first cereal beverage called Postum. The warm beverage is still made today in a variety of flavors.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller – 1874
Against her husband’s objections, the philanthropist joined with her friends Lilli P. Bliss and Mary Quinn Sullivan to establish the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Today the museum’s growing collection of almost 200,000 pieces include Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night,” “Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair” by Frida Kahlo, “Boy Leading a Horse” by Pablo Picasso, and “Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond” by Claude Monet.
Henrietta Hill Swope -1902
As an astronomer, Swope dedicated her career to studying variable stars. The Swope Telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile is named in her honor.
Mahalia Jackson – 1911
Considered the Queen of Gospel, Jackson rose to fame in the 1940s when she recorded the highest-selling gospel single of all time – “Move On Up a Little Higher.”
Edward W. Brooke – 1919
In 1967, Edward W. Brooke III became the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate since Blanch K. Bruce left office in 1881.
Lee Surkowskie – 1925
The Canadian outfielder played five seasons with the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Hillary Clinton – 1947
The 44th First Lady of the United States also served as a Senator from New York and the U.S. Secretary of State under the Obama administration.
Keith Urban – 1967
The award-winning singer-songwriter also served as a celebrity judge/coach on the singing competition shows The Voice and American Idol.
Seth MacFarlane – 1973
The animator, producer, and actor is best known for creating the animated television series Family Guy and co-creating American Dad.
