Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an actor, producer, director,
and Pentecostal minister. Known for his dramatic roles on
stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades
including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards,
two Silver Bears and one Tony Award as well as nominations
for a Grammy Award and two Emmy Awards.

In 2020, The New York Times named Washington the greatest
actor of the 21st century. He has also been honored with the
Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, AFI Life Achievement Award
in 2019, the Honorary Palme d’Or in 2025, and the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Films in which he has appeared have grossed over $5.1 billion worldwide.

      
2007                                                2004

      
2024                                     2010

Denzel Washington is 71 today.

The first photograph taken by humans of Earthrise during
the Apollo 8 mission. 

The prime crew of the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission pose
for a portrait next to the Apollo Mission Simulator at the
Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Left to right, they are
James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; William
A. Anders, lunar module pilot; and Frank Borman,
commander.

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, returns safely
to Earth after an historic six-day journey.

On December 21, Apollo 8 was launched by a three-stage
Saturn 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with
astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, Jr., and
William Anders aboard.

On Christmas Eve, the astronauts entered into orbit around
the moon, the first manned spacecraft ever to do so.

During Apollo 8‘s 10 lunar orbits, television images were sent
back home and spectacular photos were taken of the Earth
and the moon from the spacecraft.

On Christmas morning, Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit and began
its journey back to Earth, landing safely in the Pacific Ocean
on December 27 (below).

"The Night of the Meek" is episode 47 of the American
television anthology series The Twilight Zone.

It originally aired on December 23, 1960, on CBS. It was
one of the six episodes of the second season which
were shot on videotape in a short-lived experiment
aimed to cut costs.   
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Arthur William Matthew Carney
(November 4, 1918 – November 9, 2003)

William (Bill) W. Schonely (June 1, 1929 – January 21, 2023)

On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge touched a button
and lights up the first national Christmas tree to grace the White
House grounds.

Not only was this the first White House “community” Christmas
tree, but it was the first to be decorated with electric lights—a
strand of 2,500 red, white and green bulbs.

The balsam fir came from Coolidge’s home state of Vermont and
stood 48 feet tall. Several musical groups performed at the tree
-lighting ceremony, including the Epiphany Church choir and the
U.S. Marine Band.

Later that evening, President Coolidge and first lady Grace were
treated to carols sung by members of Washington, D.C.’s First Congregational Church.

According to the White House Historical Association, President
Benjamin Harrison was the first president to set up an indoor
Christmas tree for his family and visitors to enjoy in 1889. It
was decorated with ornaments and candles.