Christmas Seals and More

1. According to the American Lung Association (ALA) Web site "It all began in 1907." We're talking about Christmas Seals and the campaign is well underway. It runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 this year. "In the early 20th century, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the U.S. Physicians were experiencing the first signs of success treating tuberculosis in special hospitals called sanitoriums, and one of those facilities had fallen on tough times. The tiny Delaware sanitorium would have to close its doors if $300 could not be raised to save it. One of its doctors explained the plight to his cousin, a Red Cross volunteer named Emily Bissell. Bissell was a veteran fundraiser, and she soon came up with a plan based on one that had worked in Denmark: She would design and print special holiday seals and sell them at the post office for a penny each. By the end of her holiday campaign (and after an endorsement by President [Teddy] Roosevelt), she and a large group of committed volunteers had raised ten times the goal and the American Lung Association Christmas Seals were born," the ALA's Web site says.
The tradition has stayed alive ever since, and the ALA's mission has come to include research into other respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and asthsma, as well as pollution and cigarette awareness. Christmas Seals continue to be the major fundraiser for these causes.

2. Christmas Seals are shipped free of charge when you make a donation to the American Lung Association. One sheet of 56 seals cost $10, and five sheets costs $20. To order your 2011 Christmas Seals, visit the organization's shop.

3. For a fun, nostalgic look back at Christmas Seals throughout the years check out this link. Also be sure to take a peak at this classic John Wayne television commercial for Christmas Seals from 1955 as well as Barbara Eden's shout-out from 1973. A more recent commercial can be found here, on the American Lung Association’s Web site.

4. On this day in history, 1917, bebop legend Dizzy Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina.

5. Today is expected to be partly sunny with a high in the mid-60's. Temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 40's tonight, according to National Weather Service reports.