‘Julia’ honors those who served in World War I

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, just three years following the Civil War. General John Logan proclaimed the day as an important opportunity to honor the graves of soldiers by decorating them with flowers. Read More...

Jacob Stroud: His likeness in famous painting?

The name Jacob Stroud is well-known in Monroe County. Most citizens know that the town of Stroudsburg, which bears his name, was founded by this man. What no one knows, however, is what Jacob Stroud looked like. There are no known paintings, sketches, silhouettes, or drawings that directly depict Jacob Stroud, a surprising fact since Stroud was such an important figure in the development of the area. But there may be a painting in which Jacob Stroud can be incidentally found. Read More...

John Summerfield Staples and Abraham Lincoln

The Civil War affected the citizens of Monroe County as it did the nation. Men left their homes, families, and jobs to serve in the Union Army. Joining his fellow citizens, John Summerfield Staples fought in the Civil War – and became a celebrity.
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History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day was established to honor servicemen (and now service-women) who had enlisted or were drafted into the armed forces. The day, however, was not always called Veterans Day; its original name was Armistice Day, and it was created following World War I to honor those veterans who had served in the “War to End All Wars.” Read More...

USS Pocono

Although American Naval ships have been around since the late 1700s, it wasn’t until May 3, 1819 that Congress formally assigned the task of naming ships to the secretary of the Navy. The first names were after states, but as more ships were built, the secretary needed to expand the types of names used. Navy ships came in a variety of classifications and functions, and the names were expanded to reflect the diversity of ships. Read More...