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nFirstnNight of Hanukkah
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nnHerenis a short History Channel video on Hanukkah.nTo learn more about this Jewish holiday, check out this and thensecond half of this other earlier blog post.
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nElvisnis drafted into the army!
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nnHavenyou ever heard of “the draft”? This is a system by which peoplenare selected (often randomly) for compulsory service in the armednforces. When Elvis was in his 20s, young men in good health werenexpected to be available to “serve their country” in the armednforces, if needed. n
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nnInn1957, Elvis Presley—who was already rich and famous, havingnproduced such hits as Hound Dog and Don’t Be Cruel—receivednhis draft notice that stated that he had to serve two years in thenU.S. Army.
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nnPresleynhad received a letter ten days before saying that he was up for thendraft, and the Army, Navy and Air Force recruiters called to offernhim special enlistment opportunities if he signed up before beingndrafted. Part of the Navy’s offer was to create a special “ElvisnPresley Company” that would include soldiers from his home area. Hencould be part of Special Services and sing his way through hisnservice. However, Elvis turned all the offers down, taking a chancenwith the draft.
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Andnthen he received the fateful letter: He was told to report to thenArmy on the same day he was supposed to start filming a movie!
Andnthen he received the fateful letter: He was told to report to thenArmy on the same day he was supposed to start filming a movie!n
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nnElvisnended up serving, by choice, with no special treatment. He wentnthrough boot camp, carried his own rifle and gear, went on guardnduty—just like anyone else. In the meantime, the record companiesnreleased the various songs he had already recorded, one by one,nkeeping Elvis in the limelight despite the fact that he was overseasnin Germany. Many people admired Elvis’s grit and patriotism shown bynhis military service. So, in the long run, being away for two yearsnmay have actually helped Elvis’s career!
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nnBynthe way, these days, we have an all-volunteer army and other armednforces.
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nTonlearn more about Elvis and the draft, go here.
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nAlsonon this date…
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nElectricity theme day
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nAnniversary of first cantilever bridge over Niagara Falls
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