Boise, Celebrate April 9 As ...

BOISE, ID — Join the staff at Boise Patch to celebrate Friday, April 9 with these special announcements.

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National Cherish An Antique Day

Do you have something special that was passed down from your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents? The day provides us an opportunity to learn the story and the history behind our treasured antiques. It’s an excellent time to record the provenance and preserve it for safekeeping. Over the years, family members collect items from their travels or that remind them of a moment from their past. They may be cherished because of personal or emotional connections. Often a colorful story tells how it came into the family making it even more valuable as an heirloom.

Give your antiques some attention. Write down the stories attached to them. Whether they are personal or more directly related to the object, the item comes to life when the history attached to them is linked to them. Use #CherishAnAntiqueDay to post on social media.

National Chinese Almond Cookie Day

These cookies are excellent for serving with tea. They not only dip well but their flavor pairs well with tea, too. Add them to other cookies if you’re planning to serve a small tea. Some other suggested cookies include Madeleines, biscotti, shortbread, and lacy oatmeal cookies.

Chinese almond cookies also make great gifts. Bake some up to share. They even look pretty when displayed along with an arrangement of other cookies. Serve them with some Oolong tea.

National Former Prisoner Of War Recognition Day

National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day on April 9th honors the courageous men and women who have endured brutal treatment at the hands of their captors. As a result, they’ve also suffered separation from family and displayed incredible endurance and faith during their captivity.

On this day in 1942, the largest number of U.S. Forces were captured by Japanese troops in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. After battling through extreme conditions and prolonged battles, the captured troops were forced to march 65 miles to the prison camp. Without medical attention, food or water thousands died. The mistreatment continued for those who survived the brutal journey. In the compounds, deep in the unfamiliar jungle, the hardships, brutality, and suffering lasted more than two years for those who could survive.

Since the Revolutionary War, over half a million service members have been captured. This number does not reflect those lost or never recovered. However, each POW endures conditions much like the ones described above. These heroes deserve a day of recognition.

National Name Yourself Day

National Name Yourself Day on April 9th each year proposes one day a year to reinvent our names.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to have a different name, this would be the day to find out. Whether you like your name or not, this day is about having fun with a different name. Pick yourself a new name. Whether you create a nickname from your current name or try an entirely new name on for size, be sure to share the change. Make a name tag. When you’re attending a virtual meeting, introduce yourself by your new name. Share your results using #NationalNameYourselfDay to post on social media.

National Unicorn Day

National Unicorn Day on April 9th each year celebrates the mythical horse-like creature with a single, pointed horn growing from the center of its forehead.

Unicorns have been a popular mythical creature since Ancient Greek times when people believed they lived in exotic India. While they were once considered to be fierce, powerful animals, many now see them as a symbol of love, purity, enchantment, and magic. They also appear in many movies and cartoons as magical creatures.

National Winston Churchill Day

National Winston Churchill Day on April 9th commemorates the day he was made an honorary citizen of the United States.

Well known for his leadership as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, Winston Churchill earned his reputation through experience both in politics and the military.
On this day in 1963, a ceremony for honorary citizenship presided over by President John F. Kennedy, took place for Winston Churchill. While Churchill was not present at the ceremony, his son and grandson attended.

Honorary though his citizenship may be, Churchill can uniquely trace his roots back to Virginia by way of Brooklyn, New York. His mother was American, Jennie Jerome. Her marriage to Lord Randolph Churchill produced two children: John Spencer and Winston.

It was the first occasion in U.S. history an honorary citizenship was granted. Since then, only seven other honorary citizenships have been granted. Of those, six have been posthumous honors. In 1996, the U.S. granted Mother Teresa the only other honorary citizenship during a person’s lifetime.

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