It’s official: President Biden signed new law that designates
the bald eagle as ‘national bird.’

On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge (center) pushed 
a button and lit up the first national Christmas tree to grace the
White House grounds.

Coolidge’s “inauguration” of the first outdoor national Christmas
tree initiated a tradition that has been repeated with every
administration.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan began another custom by
authorizing the first official White House ornament, copies of
which were made available for purchase.

Calvin Coolidge 
(July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933)

30th President of the United
States

In office
August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929

SANDY KOZEL

The crew of the Apollo 8 (from left): Frank Borman, William Anders and James Lovell Jr. (AP Photo) 

 

Borman announced that the crew had a final message for
the people of Earth as each man took turns reading the 
first 10 verses of the book of Genesis from the Bible.

The Apollo 8 mission paved the way for Apollo 11, fulfilling
President John F. Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the
moon before the end of the decade.

Apollo 8 command module in the Museum of
Science and Industry.

On December 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering
from severe depression, cut off the lower part of his left ear with a
razor while staying in Arles, France.

Van Gogh suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions. He
worried about his mental stability, and often neglected his
physical health, did not eat properly and drank heavily. He
spent time in psychiatric hospitals.

He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait
with Bandaged Ear. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic
genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices.

His depression persisted, and on 29 July 1890 Van Gogh died
from his injuries after shooting himself in the chest with a
revolver.

Vincent Van Gogh
        
         
         
       

One week after the Mayflower was anchored at Plymouth harbor
in present-day Massachusetts, construction of the first permanent European settlement in New England began.