Jump Into July

July is a significant month, with celebrations like the Apollo 11 moon landing anniversary and U.S. Independence Day, marked with events such as the Republican National Convention and the 2024 Summer Olympics. It’s a time for reflection on history, patriotism, and excitement for upcoming festivities, including a notable move for the 2028 Olympics.

revised June 20, 2025

How much do you remember about July 2024? Read this post to find out.

Here we are, starting the second half of the year. July is the first full month of summer for half the world and the last full month before school starts again, at least for some families. In July, we have only one federal holiday in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s a dull month.

July 20-Remembering the First Moonwalk

Perhaps I should have titled this post Leap into July since this month we remember a “giant leap” that happened in 1969.

On July 20 we will remember that historic day over 50 years ago when humans first walked on the moon, first Neil Armstrong, followed by Edwin Aldrin.

From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration website

“The primary objective of Apollo 11 was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth.

Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

An estimated 650 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice describe the event as he took “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969.

one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind

Commander Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969

Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 hours, 36 minutes on the moon’s surface.

After a flight of 195 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, 13 miles from the recovery ship USS Hornet July 24, 1969.”

If you don’t remember it, or weren’t alive then, you can watch it at this link.

July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind

life size photo of the Apollo 11 crew-Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin
No, I didn’t go to the moon with the Apollo 11 team. My husband snapped this photo of me in front of this wall-sized photo of them displayed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX

Now the United States and multiple other countries plan to return to the moon within the next few years. I hope this new “space race” is as exciting as the first one was.

July 4-Celebrating Independence

Further back in United States history, colonists in North America took a “giant leap” by declaring independence from Great Britain. That set off a hard-fought, costly war, culminating in an independent country of 13 states.

We celebrate Independence Day, more commonly simply called the 4th of July. The Continental Congress voted on July 2, 1776 to declare independence, but the Declaration was adopted on July 4, so we celebrate that day, which is an official federal holiday.

Unfortunately, the war was not the end of conflict for the new country.

The European settlers engaged in conflicts with the Indigenous people that still impact lives today. Many settlers bought and enslaved Africans despite many who objected to such a heinous practice.

The struggle between slave owners and abolitionists eventually led to a bitter Civil War a hundred years later and the civil rights movement after another century.

Still, the original dream of equality and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness continues to inspire and motivate all Americans, whatever their origin.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, 

the Declaration of Independence
Thanks again to my husband for this photo of me at the Lincoln Memorial looking toward the Washington Memorial in Washington, DC.

Thanks to a cousin who did an extensive genealogy of my father’s family, I found evidence of having an ancestor who assisted in the fight for independence by providing supplies to the army. So I became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The mission of DAR includes education, patriotism, and historic preservation. Follow this link to see if you qualify to join, we always want new patriots and new members.

And don’t assume it doesn’t apply to you. DAR is seeking unrecognized African American and Native American patriots. One of them may be your ancestor

Daughters of the American Revolution

“As part of the DAR’s mission to preserve the past and encourage people to learn more about the nation’s history, the E Pluribus Unum Initiative will support new scholarship, create educational programming, and develop new research tools that complement work being done by other organizations, with the goal of enriching our understanding of the different people behind the effort of the colonies to win independence, and recognizing those who have been left out of the historical narrative.”

July 15-The Republican National Convention

At the 2024 Republican National Convention, delegates of the United States Republican Party selected the party’s president and vice president nominees for the 2024 presidential election in November. The event occurred July 15 to 18, 2024, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The nominee was, as expected, former President Donald Trump, who announced his choice for a vice presidential running mate, Senator J.D. Vance.

Mr. Vance was known for his military service as well as his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, in which he described growing up poor in Appalachia.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis 

He was raised by his grandmother because his mother, Beverly, struggled with substance abuse. She successfully overcame her addiction and lived to see her son become Vice President of the United States. Her story is one to celebrate.

I’ve never been inside the White House; it’s impressive from the outside. The President and his family reside here.

Aren’t the flowers gorgeous?

July 26-The Summer Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques d’été de 2024), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (French: Jeux de la XXXIIIe Olympiade) and commonly known as Paris 2024, is an international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024 in France, with Paris as the main host city and 16 other cities.

statues of runners passing a torch
at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs Colorado, photo by Dr.Aletha

From 1924 to 1992, the Summer and Winter Games were held in the same year, every four years, a period called the “Olympiad”. The last Summer and Winter Games held in the same year were in Barcelona (Summer) and Albertville (Winter) in 1992.

Since then, the Summer Games are celebrated during the first year of an Olympiad and the Winter Games held in the third year, so we only have to wait two years to watch these exciting games again.

The Olympic games originated in Greece.

Considering the variety of sports held during the Summer Games, there will be many chances to observe competitive jumping-basketball, gymnastics, equestrian, volleyball, diving, and skateboarding-as well as sports that stay grounded-archery, golf, table tennis, and weightlifting.

two champion athletes
a runner and gymnast represented at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, CO

And what would summer be without water so we’ll see swimming, water polo, canoeing, rowing, and sailing. And surfing is in the Olympics, but not in Paris. Surfing events will be in Tahiti, which is part of French Polynesia.

swimming pool
a real “Olympic-sized” swimming pool at the training center

These photos are from my tour of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado a few years ago. Please visit this post to see more photos and read more about my visit.

A tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado

A visit to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs showcases the dedication and resilience of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Promoting physical activity, it emphasizes the health benefits of exercise, while sharing the “Winning Attitudes” and determination exhibited by champions. The center inspires a commitment to personal excellence and perseverance.

Keep reading

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’ll definitely be tuning in to watch the Olympic games. I especially enjoy the gymnastics and track events but also some of the less familiar sports. I may even check out breaking, which debuts this Olympics.

Breakdancing, as breaking is popularly known, is a form of dance sport that blends urban dance with remarkable athleticism, making it worthy of a spot in the Olympic program.

I’m already excited about the 2028 Summer Olympics coming to my home state, Oklahoma! At least part of it is. Los Angeles California is the official host city but two events will be in Oklahoma City-softball and canoe slalom.

“The partnership between the two cities is a move designed to use existing sports facilities and keep costs down.” Read more about the plans at this link

Why two 2028 Los Angeles Olympics events are moving to Oklahoma City

I’ve never been to an Olympic game so this will be my best chance.

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Let’s jump into July

What are you jumping into this month? What new “leaps” will you try? Let us know in the comments so we can cheer you on.

Dr. Aletha

a woman in a red, white, and blue shirt
Me, a few years ago, showing my patriotic spirit by posing in red, white, and blue

There’s much more to Explore on this blog so use the Search box to look for your favorite health, medical, and wellness topic.

June Observances: Father’s Day, D-Day, Juneteenth, and More

The month of June brings the midway mark of the year, with long days of sunshine and significant events such as Father’s Day and the historic D-Day. Students enjoy a break from studies while we honor a day of liberation for African Americans with Juneteenth. Join me in reflecting and remembering these events in this new post.

Are you someone who wonders how the year arrived in June so soon? By the end of this month, the year will be half over. It is another of the short months with only 30 days, but there is much to remember and do. (Pop quiz-what other months have 30 days? Answer at the end of this post.)

Spring meets Summer

Many of us in the northern hemisphere made it through the cold dismal winter months only to contend with spring storms. Near where I live we have had devastating tornadoes. I’ve seen reports of massive flooding in other areas.

June promises warm, even hot, summer days to enjoy outdoor activities and vacations. The first day of summer occurs in June, called the summer solstice. South of the equator you experience the winter solstice.

It’s the longest day of the year, then the days progressively shorten until the first day of winter in December.

graphic of the earth explaining equinox and solstice
An illustration of the changing relationship of the earth and sun throughout the year; original source not known

Summer break or graduate?

Most students are on summer break or graduated and moved into a new phase of life. Congratulations and thanks if you earned and received a diploma, degree, certificate, or any other learning achievement this year.

We can use whatever knowledge and talent you bring to the table. Help us make the world a better place.

Raymond and I enjoyed celebrating our granddaughter’s high school graduation with her parents, brother, and several thousand other people.

Father’s Day

In the United States, we observe Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. It’s not quite as big a deal as Mother’s Day in May, but it is catching on. I understand other countries have similar observances for fathers.

I wrote a post featuring a well-known Bible story about a father and two sons. It’s popularly known as the story of the “prodigal son” which became the name of a short-lived television series a few years ago.

Honoring Fatherhood: Lessons from the Prodigal Son Story

In the United States, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. A biblical story about a father and his two sons illustrates the concept of forgiveness and celebration. The “lost son,” also known as the prodigal son, represents someone who leaves and then returns, seeking forgiveness. The passage encourages honoring important father…

Keep reading

June 6-D Day

Earlier in June, we observed a more solemn event. On June 6 every year, we pause to remember that day in 1944, simply known as “D-Day.”

This year marks the 80th anniversary of that fateful day. I saw a news video of WWII veterans who traveled to France to observe the occasion. One of them is 107 years old!

D-Day. The Invasion of Normandy. Operation Overlord. It goes by various names, but we’ve all heard about it through history class, older family members, the news, or shows like “Band of Brothers.”

On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied forces landed in Nazi-occupied France as part of the biggest air, land, and sea invasion ever executed. It ended with heavy casualties — more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded in those first 24 hours — but D-Day is considered the successful beginning of the end of Hitler’s tyrannical regime.

Remembering a D-Day Veteran

I was privileged to know one of those soldiers and wrote about his personal experience in the invasion, and how it changed his life. Please read about my late friend, soldier, and artist, Bill Hart in this post.

A Son Reflects on his Father’s Life after D-Day, June 6, 1944

On June 6, 1944, D-Day marked the Allied invasion of Normandy, leading to the liberation of France and the end of World War II. Bill Hart, a WWII veteran, captured his traumatic experiences through art and memoirs, highlighting his struggles with PTSD and the significant impact of his memories on his life and family.

Keep reading

Juneteenth, June 19

Another important liberation day is Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19 since it was designated a national holiday in 2021. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, thus granting freedom to enslaved persons.

The word “Juneteenth” is a Black English contraction, or portmanteau, of the month “June” and the date “Nineteenth.” Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people of African descent located in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom from the slavery system in the United States.

National Park Service

However, slaveholders in Texas, a Confederate state, made no attempt to free enslaved African Americans. President Lincoln’s proclamation was unenforceable without military intervention, which eventually came 2 years later.

Photos by Dr. Aletha -I captured these images when I visited Washington DC. President Lincoln’s and Dr. King’s statues are even more impressive in person.

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Now the pop quiz answer-

Months with 30 days are April, June, September, and November. Congrats if you knew all.

Notice two are in the first half and two in the year’s second half.

I appreciate your time and interest and invite you to help me share the HEART of health by sharing this and other posts. There is no charge for this content but gifts are always welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,

Dr. Aletha

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