19 April: Two Anniversaries

for all you students of history out there

so anyway, today, 19 April is a day to be celebrated, as well as a day of infamy.

First, 19 April 1775. Dale Franks of Q and O fame recounts the backstory on the midnight ride of Paul Revere and the "shot heard 'round the world":

Today is an important day in American history. It is not, oddly, a day we commemorate in any particular way. But April 19th, 1775, is the day American independence truly began. Because today is the day the country began fighting for it.

Do go read the whole thing. Fascinating stuff, that.

Second, 19 April 1995. Dave in Texas over at Ace of Spades reminds us that today is the anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City:

This morning, at 9:02 CDT, people in Oklahoma City paused to remember the victims of this day, thirteen years ago.

Which is a good and fine thing to do.

One hundred and sixty eight people. 19 of them were children in a day care center.

Horror. And heartache.

As fair warning, Dave's post includes the iconic picture of that day in Oklahoma City thirteen years ago. Eerily similar to another iconic photo....

More soon