October 13, 2021 – National Fossil Day | Navy Birthday

Not All Fossils Give Up Their Stories Right Away. Welcome to October 13, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate digging up history and our Nation’s fighting spirit.  In 1676, a giant leg bone was unearthed in England. Scientists didn’t know what it was, or where it came from, but they examined it and decided that it had come from—a giant. They were partially right. While they were envisioning a human-like, fairytale giant, it was actually from a giant lizard that would later come to be known as a dinosaur. Specifically, a Megalosaurus. But no one realized that until nearly 150 years later, when scientist Richard Owen pieced it all together. Today we use fossils to better understand the history of our planet and the evolution of life on it. On National Fossil Day, dig up some cool facts on these links to the past that teach us from the dust. On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress formally established what would become the United States Navy.  The most famous American Captain from this era was John Paul Jones.  In 1779, he engaged the British 44 gun Royal Navy frigate, Serapis.  With his ship burning and sinking, Jones refused to surrender and he uttered the now famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight.”  And it turns out he was right!  Three hours after making this declaration, the British ship surrendered to him and Jones took command. On our Navy’s Birthday, we celebrate the men and women who carry on the fighting spirit of Captain Jones.   I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.