10 Jul

‘Leland’ by Shane Blakeslee — A Life Reimagined

Leland is a moving work of historical fiction that explores the life that might have been lived by Leland Blakeslee, a 19-year-old soldier killed in the Korean War. Set in a small town in Western New York, the novel reimagines a world in which Leland survives the war, comes home, marries his sweetheart, and devotes his life to innovation, compassion, and service. From helping power NASA’s moon missions to founding a company that brings clean, decentralized energy to millions, Leland’s [...]

21 Jun

Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun

“…among recipients of the Medal of Honor, Father Kapaun’s story is, in itself, wholly unique, wholly different. He didn’t charge a pillbox; he didn’t defeat an enemy battalion or brigade or division by himself. Rather, Father Kapaun’s only weapons were his steely defiance that inspired his fellow prisoners of war; the words he spoke, which brought comfort to the Soldiers with whom he served; and a simple piece of purple ribbon that he wore around his neck, a mark [...]

08 Jun

Audie Murphy and Leland Blakeslee — Two Boys, One Fight

Audie Murphy was small for a soldier—5’5”, 112 pounds when he enlisted. Too young to buy a drink, not too young to fight. Born in rural Texas in 1925, he grew up dirt-poor, hunting to feed his family. When WWII came, he lied about his age to enlist. By 19, he was the most decorated American combat soldier of the war. The boy who was too small, too young, became a giant. Leland Blakeslee—whose story is told in LELAND (launching July 2, [...]

21 May

Korean War – The Battle of Unsan

Capt. Emil Kapaun (right), former chaplain with Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, helps another soldier carry an exhausted Soldier off the battlefield at Unsan. Unsan is located in the eastern section of North P’yŏngan province, roughly 60 km northeast of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. Between October 25 and November 4, 1950, Unsan was the site of one of the most devastating battles for U.S. forces in the Korean War. Unsan marked the surprise entry of the [...]

15 May

Birthright Citizenship

What Is Birthright Citizenship? Birthright citizenship means you become a citizen of a country just by being born—either because of where you were born or who your parents are. There are two main ways this can happen: By place of birth (jus soli): You are a citizen if you are born in the country. By family (jus sanguinis): You are a citizen because your parents are citizens, even if you’re born somewhere else. How It Works in the United States In the U.S., [...]

08 May

Tariffs 101: What are they and how do they work?

Clarissa Hahn Economist What are tariffs? Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries. Think of tariff like an extra cost added to foreign products when they enter the country. They’re usually a percentage of the price of the goods. The level of the tariff will affect the significance of its impacts. Why do governments impose tariffs: Raise government revenue– tariffs serve as a source of income for governments. Protect domestic industries and correct trade imbalances– [...]

30 Apr

Fall of Saigon (Vietnam) 50 Years Later

Vietnam is marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon today, commemorating the end of the Vietnam War. A military parade in Ho Chi Minh City—the former South Vietnamese capital of Saigon—is expected to draw more than 13,000 people, including delegations from several countries. US officials are not on the guest list, a mutual diplomatic decision despite improved relations in recent decades. The anniversary marks the day North Vietnamese forces captured the city, ending nearly two decades of war and unifying the country [...]

16 Apr

Greenland: The world’s largest island

Greenland is officially the world’s largest island that is not a continent. Home to 56,000 people, Greenland has its own extensive local government, but it is also part of the Realm of Denmark. Despite the distance between Greenland and Denmark – about 3532 km between their capitals – Greenland has been associated with Denmark politically and culturally for a millennium. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it was redefined as a district of Denmark. In addition to its [...]

08 Apr

NATO – An attack on one is an attack on all

Background The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance of 32 member countries from Europe and North America. NATO was established in 1949 with 12 founding nations, and its primary purpose is to provide a collective security framework—originally established to defend Western European nations against aggression from the Soviet Union. The organization was founded on collective defense, meaning that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO has broadened its membership and [...]

01 Apr

The Cult Of The American Lawn

Manicured grass yards are ecological dead zones. So why are they being forced on people by their neighbors and homeowner associations? When Janet and Jeff Crouch sought to enliven their front yard in suburban Maryland with native black-eyed Susans, Joe-Pye weed, asters and coneflowers, they had no inkling that they were doing anything controversial. “It was a garden full of life and color,” Janet told me. “It was beautiful.” Her sister advocated for native plants and encouraged them to think about [...]