NATIONAL PEACE ROSE DAY
Each year on April 29th, National Peace Rose Day honors a well-known and fruitful garden rose.
The light yellow to large cream-colored flowers of the Peace rose have slightly flushed crimson pink petal edges. It is a hybrid tea rose that is hardy, vigorous, and highly resistant to disease.
French horticulturist Francis Meilland developed the Peace rose between 1935 and 1939. When Meilland foresaw the German invasion of France to protect the new rose, he sent cutting to his friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United States. It is believed these cuttings were sent to the United States on the last plane available before the German invasion.
Each country that received a cutting gave the rose a different name. It was called “Madame A. Meilland” in honor of the breeder’s mother in France. Italy named the rose Gioia, meaning Joy. In Germany, the name of the rose was Gloria Dei, for glory to God. The United States named the rose “Peace,” and the national flower of the United States is the rose.
As the Second World War came to a close in Europe, the trade name “Peace” was publicly announced on April 29, 1945, by the Conrad Pyle Co. in the United States.
Later in 1945, Peace roses were given to each delegate at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations, in San Francisco, with a note that read: “We hope the Peace rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeaceRoseDay
- Discover the beauty of the Peace Rose.
- Plant a Peace Rose shrub.
- Share clippings with others.
- Share the story of the Peace Rose.
- Use #NationalPeaceRoseDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL PEACE ROSE DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this rosy holiday.
April 29th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History
1852
Peter Roget publishes Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. The work was the result of decades of collecting lists of words and categorizing them, much like a scientist would collect specimens. The thesaurus was more than a book of synonyms – it was a complete categorization and organization of each word by meaning.
1925
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences elects the first woman, Dr. Florence Rena Sabin to the academy. Dr. Sabin of Baltimore, Maryland was a pioneer in histology and also held the first full professorship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
1986
Roger Clemens strikes out twenty batters in a 9-inning game. He’s the first Major League pitcher to accomplish this milestone. The right-hander achieved the record in a 3-1 win for the Red Sox over the Seattle Mariners. Steve Carlton of the St. Louis Cardinals held the previous record of 19 strikeouts set in 1969.
April 29th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays
William Randolph Hearst – 1863
Known for heading up the rivalry between two New York papers that created yellow journalism, William Randolph Hearst’s drive for sensational headlines carried beyond the ink. He also owned newsreel and movie production companies. Much to Hearst’s displeasure, in 1941, Orson Welles released Citizen Kane, a fictionalized biography of Hearst’s life.
Duke Ellington – 1899
The award-winning composer is known as one of the best jazz pianists of the 20th century. His career spanned more than six decades while leading jazz orchestras, playing in big bands, and earning 13 Grammy Awards.
Willie Nelson – 1933
Willie Nelson’s music spans more than five decades. From “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” to well-received acting performances, Nelson had a reputation as an outlaw country musician while raising money for Farm Aid and other charitable causes.
Andre Agassi – 1970
Andre Agassi put the tennis world in the headlines during the 1990s. Winning Wimbledon and several Grand Slams, Agassi would take gold at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.
