National Gymnastics Day
September 19
The word ‘gymnastics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘gymnos’ which means ‘naked.” In Ancient Greece, most of the gymnastics competitions were done in the nude. The Ancient Greeks were probably the first to practice gymnastics more than 2000 years ago. But their events were more like track and field and swimming than the gymnastics events we know and recognize today. Also, men who fought for Ancient Greece used gymnastics as training for war. Friedrich Ludwig Jahn of Germany is known as the “father of gymnastics.” He even invented several pieces of equipment, like the parallel bars and the balance beam. The first modern Olympics of 1896 included gymnastics. Women’s gymnastics were first included in the Amsterdam games of 1928. The first American to win the all-around Olympic gold medal was Mary Lou Retton. She won this gold medal in 1984.
National Thank a Police Officer Day
September 19
Although law enforcement agencies were organized in England in the 13th century, the first modern police officers operated in London starting in 1829. Many American police forces were initially created in the 1830s in response to a wave of riots that broke out in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Cincinnati, Detroit, and several other cities. The United States has roughly 18,000 separate law enforcement agencies, all of which operate largely independent of each other. There are currently 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in the Unites States. This is the largest number of officers ever employed at one time. Over 21,000 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty since America’s founding. Nearly 90% of London’s police officers don’t carry firearms.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Trisha Yearwood – Country Singer – born in Monticello, Georgia
Jimmy Fallon – Tonight Show host – born in Brooklyn, New York
