American Radio Relay League Saves Lives 

US #1260 was issued for the league’s 50th anniversary.

On March 28, 1964, amateur radio operators provided essential emergency communications in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Alaska.

The idea for the American Radio Relay League came from Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut.  One night in April 1914, he wanted to send a message to a friend 30 miles away in Springfield, but was unable to reach him.  From this, the idea struck Maxim to create an organized relay system for radio amateurs.

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Cherry Trees Planted Along the Potomac

US #4651-52 was issued for the 100th anniversary of this event.

On March 27, 1912, US First Lady Helen Taft and wife of the Japanese ambassador Viscountess Chinda planted two Yoshina cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River.  The plantings were in celebration of the Japanese gift of 3,020 cherry trees to the US government.

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Death of Beethoven 

Maldives Islands #669 was issued for the 150th anniversary of Beethoven’s death.

On March 26, 1827, legendary composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria.

Beethoven’s exact birthdate is unknown, though some historians believe he was born on December 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany.  He was baptized on December 17, and at the time, it was customary for children to be baptized the day after they were born.

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Happy Medal of Honor Day!

US #2045 pictures the Army, Air Force, and Navy/Coast Guard/Marines Medals of Honor.

Medal of Honor Day has been celebrated on this day since 1991 to commemorate the awarding of the first six Medals of Honor for the Great Locomotive Chase.

Although awards had been given for military service since 1782, the first steps in creating the Medal of Honor as we know it were taken in 1861.  It was at that time that Edward D. Townsend suggested to Commanding General of the US Army, Winfield Scott, to introduce a medal for individual valor.

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Birth of Joseph Priestley

US #2038 was issued for Priestley’s 250th birthday.

Joseph Priestley was born on March 24, 1733, in Birstall, West Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Priestley was born into a relatively successful family that made wool cloth.  He attended the Dissenting Academy.  While there, he renounced Calvinism and adopted Unitarianism, which rejected the Trinity and believed in the perfectibility of man.

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Birth of John Bartram 

US #3314 pictures Franklinia, which Bartram discovered with his son.

Botanist John Bartram was born on March 23, 1699, in Darby, Pennsylvania Colony.

Born into a Quaker farm family, Bartram had little formal education, aside from attending a small local school.  From a young age, he had an interest in medicine and medicinal plants.

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