Airboat Day
National Airboat Day is held on February 19th. An airboat, also known as a fan boat, is a flat-bottomed vessel powered by an aircraft-style propeller. Unlike traditional boats, airboats do not have a submerged propeller, making them ideal for navigating shallow waters, marshes, and swamps.
Iwo Jima Day
Iwo Jima Day is observed on February 19th to commemorate the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 during World War II. This brutal battle between U.S. and Japanese forces lasted until March 26, 1945, and was a pivotal moment in the Pacific theater. The U.S. Marines landed on February 19, 1945, beginning one of the fiercest battles of the war. The battle is famous for the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, which was captured in an iconic photograph by Joe Rosenthal. More than 6,800 Americans and 18,000 Japanese soldiers died in the fighting. The battle was crucial in securing an airbase for U.S. bombers targeting Japan.
Here are some notable historical events that happened on February 19th:
Historical Events:
1473 – Birth of Nicolaus Copernicus
The Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the universe, which placed the Sun (not Earth) at the center of the solar system.
1807 – Aaron Burr Arrested for Treason
Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested for allegedly plotting to create an independent country in the American Southwest. He was later acquitted.
1878 – Thomas Edison Patents the Phonograph
Edison received a patent for the phonograph, one of his most famous inventions and an early step toward recorded sound technology.
1942 – Roosevelt Orders Japanese American Internment (Executive Order 9066)
During World War II, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, leading to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans.
1945 – Battle of Iwo Jima Begins
The U.S. launched its invasion of the island of Iwo Jima during World War II, a pivotal and brutal battle that lasted until March 26. The iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi happened on February 23, 1945.
1985 – First Episode of “EastEnders” Airs
The British soap opera “EastEnders” premiered on BBC One and became one of the UK’s most popular TV shows.
Famous Birthdays:
1473 – Nicolaus Copernicus – Astronomer who revolutionized our understanding of the solar system.
1917 – Carson McCullers – American novelist known for The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
1924 – Lee Marvin – American actor known for The Dirty Dozen and Point Blank.
1940 – Smokey Robinson – Legendary singer, songwriter, and producer, a key figure in Motown music.
1955 – Jeff Daniels – American actor known for Dumb and Dumber, The Newsroom, and Speed.
Notable Deaths:
1897 – Karl Weierstrass – German mathematician, known as the “father of modern analysis.”
1951 – André Gide – French author and Nobel Prize winner.
2016 – Harper Lee – American novelist, famous for To Kill a Mockingbird.
