September is a meaningful month for dog lovers and disability advocates alike, as it recognizes National Service Dog Month, National Guide Dog Month, and Responsible Dog Ownership Month. Together, these observances celebrate the remarkable dogs that help people live more independent lives while also reminding all pet owners of the lifelong commitment that comes with caring for a dog.
(more…)Jill Jensen
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EAT DESSERT FIRST!
Did you know that August is National “Eat Dessert First Month”?
National Eat Dessert First Month is a fun, tasty, and indulgent observance that encourages people to enjoy desserts as the first course. It’s not a formal holiday with official government recognition, but it’s widely recognized in food and lifestyle communities. Every August, there are 31 blissful days when you are given the green light to indulge your sweet tooth before your main meal, not after.
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SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL – AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary, known also as the Semiquincentennial, on July 4, 2026, marking two and a half centuries since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Communities across the country are planning parades, concerts, historical reenactments, museum exhibits, volunteer projects, and fireworks displays, to honor the nation’s history and look toward its future.
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FATHER’S DAY
Father’s Day began in 1908 with a church service in Fairmont, West Virginia, honoring men who died in a mining disaster the year before in nearby Monongah. In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, suggested creating a national day to celebrate fathers. Inspired by a sermon on Mother’s Day, she wanted to establish a day to recognize her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own. With support from local churches, community groups, and the YMCA, the third Sunday in June was chosen and the first official Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910.
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NATIONAL NURSES DAY
National Nurses Day is observed annually on May 6 and marks the beginning of National Nurses Week (May 6–May 12), which concludes on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing and known as “The Lady With the Lamp” for her night rounds caring for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War from 1853-1856. These celebrations honor the more than five million nurses across the United States whose compassion, resilience, and dedication form the heart of our healthcare system. First officially recognized by President Ronald Reagan after efforts by the American Nurses Association, the celebration recognizes nurses not only in hospitals but also in schools, nursing homes, clinics, and in other facilities across communities nationwide.
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