America’s 243rd birthday is fast approaching, with all of the barbecues, parades and fireworks that that entails. But for those planning on taking in a movie or two on this Independence Day, what to watch? Well, thankfully, Hollywood has produced nearly a century of films to stir the patriotic fervor of every American’s heart. But which ones to watch? As a movie lover, I … [Read more...]
About Howard Kramer
SEVEN EXCELLENT MOVIES TO WATCH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – MILITARY EDITION
From the earliest days of Hollywood, movies about war have proved to be one of the most prolific and popular cinematic genres; and with America’s military history, there is no shortage of stories to tell. From the American Revolution to the modern day wars in the Middle East, Hollywood has covered everything in perhaps over a thousand films. But there are a few that stand out … [Read more...]
AMERICA’S TALLEST BATTLE MONUMENTS
America has fought in many battles and in many wars. And like its European counterparts during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, America commemorated its military history with countless memorials. The United States is packed with them. Tens of thousands of monuments, from life-sized statues of heroes in the town square to immense obelisks that overlook aging … [Read more...]
AMERICAN MILITARY MONUMENTS IN THE PACIFIC (remembering World War II in the Pacific)
The United States military has fought in the conflicts in the Pacific as early as the 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the massive campaigns against Japan during World War II that Americans became familiar with the region. Today some of the greatest battles of the War in the Pacific have achieved legendary status in America’s military history, and many of these are now … [Read more...]
AMERICAN MILITARY MONUMENTS IN FRANCE (Remembering the World Wars in Europe)
American military monuments and cemeteries can be found in dozens of countries around the world. Nowhere is this more true than in France, which, thanks to the two World Wars, has almost as many American monuments than all other countries (outside of the United States) combined. The American Battle Monuments Commission alone maintains over two dozen cemeteries in monuments in … [Read more...]
AMERICAN MILITARY MONUMENTS IN MEXICO AND CUBA (Remembering the Mexican-American and Spanish-American Wars)
Often forgotten in the shadow of the American Civil War, the United States fought a number of major conflicts in the 19th century against various world powers that both established its dominance in the Western Hemisphere and contributed to its status as a world power. Among these are the nearly forgotten Mexican-American and Spanish-American Wars, which between them saw … [Read more...]
SEVEN MOST RELIGIOUS SUPERHEROES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
In the year 2000 (has it really been seventeen years?), Hollywood gave us the first film in the X-Men franchise. Since then, multiple film studios have given us ten films in the X-Men franchise; fifteen films in the Avengers franchise (including the Guardians of the Galaxy) with nine more on the way; five Spider Man films; and a handful of other odds and ends. Movies based on … [Read more...]
THE ROOF OF NOTRE DAME DE PARIS: A TRIBUTE
So as most of you have probably heard by now, Notre Dame de Paris, one of the world's greatest and most iconic churches, was devastated by a tragic fire on Monday. The good news is that while the interior was badly damaged, the walls and towers were essentially undamaged. Moreover, only one person, a brave Parisian firefighter, was injured, and a lot of the artwork and sacred … [Read more...]
EASTER SUNDAY EVENTS IN THE SOUTH
Easter, the holiest day of the Christian year, commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and his triumph over death. It is both a literal and figurative celebration of life and rebirth, and is a holiday of great joy for Christians around the world. Easter religious services are often followed by festivals and traditions of all sorts. In the United States, two of the … [Read more...]
AMERICA’S MORMON PILGRIMAGE TRAIL
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormon Church as it is more commonly called, is the largest completely home-grown American Christian denomination. Founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, this unusual movement had an adventurous if rough early history. Begun in New York state, its members moved several times ever westward across the American frontier, … [Read more...]
