Army

Clara Barton was born on December 25, 1821, in North Oxford, Massachusetts. She was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” during the Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross.

Christopher Houston Carson was born December 24, 1809, in Richmond, Kentucky. Better known as Kit Carson, his contributions to the westward expansion of the United States rank him as one of the nation’s great folk heroes.

On December 22, 1696, James Oglethorpe was born in Surrey, England. He settled the Georgia Colony in 1733 and served as its leader for a decade.

From December 19, 1777, to June 18, 1778, the Continental Army, under the command of General George Washington, camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

On December 15, 1936, the first of 10 stamps in the Army/Navy Set was issued. The stamps honor 18 military leaders from the Revolutionary War to Spanish-American War.

On December 13, 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony established its own militia, the precursor to America’s National Guard. Militias were later established in every state, eventually becoming the National Guard in 1916.

Fiorello La Guardia, was born December 11, 1882, in Greenwich Village, New York. He was voted the best former mayor in America for his 12 years of leadership of New York City.

On December 6, 1917, Finland declared its independence.  This was a major victory following centuries of foreign rule.

On December 5, 1775, Continental Army Colonel Henry Knox reached Fort Ticonderoga in preparation for his “noble train of artillery.” Arriving in Boston 10 weeks later, he delivered much-needed weapons to George Washington.