Birth of Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Thanks in part to the teachings of Anne Sullivan, she went on to become the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
American History
Birth of Chesty Puller
Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller was born on June 26, 1898, in West Point, Virginia. The most decorated Marine in US history, Puller stands as a symbol of esprit de corps.
First Canal Zone Stamps Issued
On June 24, 1904, the US issued its first stamps for use in the Canal Zone. The stamps were used by the thousands of workers who built and maintained the Panama Canal.
GI Bill
On June 22, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, also known as the GI Bill, into law.
First American Woman in Space
On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. She was the third woman overall, after Soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya.
Trans-Mississippi Stamps Issued
On June 17, 1898, the prized Trans-Mississippi stamps were issued as part of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hawaii Becomes a US Territory
On June 14, 1900, Hawaii became a US territory and began using US stamps for its mail. Prior to that, Hawaii had been issuing its own stamps for nearly 50 years.
1957 International Naval Review
On June 12, 1957, the US hosted an International Naval Review that coincided with the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony.
Allies Storm Normandy On D-Day
On June 6, 1944, some 155,000 Allied troops stormed the shores of Normandy on D-Day, the start of Operation Overlord.