Ben and Jerry Say Thanks to TJ!

Happy National Ice Cream Day and Thank you TJ!  No, Thomas Jefferson was not the first to introduce ice cream to America, but it can be argued that he generated the first popular obsession with the cold dessert.  The Library of Congress even has his hand written recipe that was served at the President's House in Washington DC and at Monticello.  The President found many pleasures during his time spent in France, but ice cream spreading through the well to do households of the 18th and early 19th centuries led to a new and lasting American craving.  Here is the overview from the Jefferson Library.

Americans and the RAF

A highlight of our Warriors on the Western Front trip to Europe this year was visiting the RAF museum north of London.  Of course with everything else on this trip, we did not have near enough time to fully explore the museum.  Many Americans are aware that men from the US did join the RAF during the Battle of Britain prior to Pearl Harbor.  The sad part is that they learned this from the sappy Ben Affleck film Pearl Harbor.   These American pilots braved not only the German Luftwaffe, but lost their American citizenship for doing so.  They were later pardoned.  Letters they sent home were America's first up close look at World War II.  It always amazes me that just 160 years before Americans were giving their lives to defeat the British, but these men took it upon themselves to prevent the British from being defeated.

Royal Air Force Museum - Eagle Squadrons

Teddy Roosevelt's Grave Overlooking Omaha Beach

Well maybe not the President Teddy Roosevelt, but his son Ted Roosevelt.   After serving in North Africa and helping to lead the Normandy invasions as a Brigadier General his efforts were rewarded with a Medal of Honor and a promotion to Major General on July 12th, 1944.  However, on this same day he was struck down by a heart attack.  It was decided that he would be buried in Normandy with his men and is today one of the most visited graves at the American Cemetery.  He truly embodied the spirit of his father by being the highest ranking and oldest soldier  on Utah Beach on D-Day.  The Roosevelts (along with the MacArthurs) are one of only two fathers and sons awarded the Medal of Honor.