Ellen DeGeneres

"DeGeneres is the bravest and most honest female comedian I have ever seen work because she publicly announced she's gay. That revelation could have ended her career, as she had to be aware, but she also knew she had to be honest"
-Bob Newhart, in his column in Time Magazine on Ellen DeGeneres

On the May 16, 2008 airing of The Ellen Show, star Ellen DeGeneres announced that she and her girlfriend Portia de Rossi. The audience stood up and cheered, their joy matched by those watching at home. Such a response to Ellen's homosexuality was not always so great. In 1998 her first television show "Ellen" was canceled, only several episodes after Ellen's "coming out" episode. It had been a long road to this point in her life; she had an amazing girlfriend who she loved, a hugely successful talk show, and she was one of the world's most well-known lesbian Americans.

Born in January 1958 to Elliot DeGeneres and Elizabeth Pfeffer. As a chi.ld she dreamed of becoming a Veterinarian but did not pursue it because she was "not book-smart." As a young teenager Ellen's parents separated and divorced, which led Ellen and her mother moving to Atlanta, Texas with her new stepfather, Roy Gruessendorf. She graduated from Atlanta High School in 1976. Following graduation DeGeneres moved back to Louisiana to pursue a degree in communications at the University of Louisiana. After a brief time there, Ellen decided to leave school to join the workforce where she held a number of jobs including being a waitress, a legal secretary, a house-painter and a bartender. She soon discovered that she did not want to "answer to a boss". She found herself a budding career as a stand up comedian in 1981 after using humor to get through a public speaking event.

Ellen DeGeneres is also well-known for her mid-1990s sitcom Ellen. The show ran from 1994 to 1998 and was a huge hit, even being compared to the legendary "Seinfeld". Ellen disagreed with the comparison saying: "On his show, Jerry is the more or less normal one and there are all these colorful characters around him. On my show, I'm the one who always trips." In 1997 Ellen was met with both praise and critcism when Ellen's character came out as a lesbian to her therapist. Ellen, herself, had previously come out both on the Oprah Winfrey Show and on the cover of Time magazine where she proudly declared "Yep, I'm Gay."

Ellen's declaration was a bold one. The gay community welcomed her with open arms, as did many American households. But not everyone was impressed with Degeneres' coming out; Birmingham, Alabama refused to air the groundbreaking episode and sponsors of the television show, such as Daimler Chrysler withdrew advertisements, fearing criticism. Ellen was cancelled shortly after the episode premiered, despite being nominated for an Emmy award.

After the cancellation Ellen appeared in EdTV starring Matthew McConaughey as well the a television production of "If These Walls Could Talk 2" where she shared a love scene with Sharon Stone. But in 2003 Ellen got her big comeback roles playing the voice of Dory in the hit "Finding Nemo as well as starring on her own talk show. She has since hosted the Daytime Emmys twice and and the Academy Awards.

Ellen has had well publicized romances with several women. After the "coming out" episode of Ellen DeGeneres announced she was dating actress Anne Heche. The couple split in 2000. Ellen was quoted by Advocate Magazine saying "I felt like I would never live again. But you do." Heche went on to marry cameraman Coley Laffoon. In 2001 Ellen dated Alexandra Hedison. Their relationship ended in late 2004. Shortly after, Ellen began dating Portia de Rossi, with whom she is currently engaged.

Ellen DeGeneres has become a hugely sucessful comedian and actress as well as a spokesperson for the gay community. She has had ups and downs in her career but has persevered and continues to be one of the best known lesbians in television history. Despite some criticism from naysayers there is no doubt that her career is far from over.

Sources:
Biography
Wikipedia
About.com

Jeanne Assam

“I have friends who are Army Rangers calling me, saying what she did is not easy to do, even for trained people. I just know that she’s a hero."
-Matt Swenson, first cousin to Jeanne Assam

In December 2007 gunshots rang out from the New Life Church Parking lot in Colorado Springs. Over one-hundred members of the church were enjoying their Sunday service when Matthew Murray entered the church with a mission. Murray entered from the parking lot where he had just executed two teenage girls. He had a vendetta against the church after being kicked out of a Youth With A Mission program and had previously shot and killed two people in Arvada, Colorado who were involved with the program.

Jeanne Assam was working as a security guard at the church that fateful day. She had been trained to use a handgun and owned a permit to carry a concealed weapon. She noticed the crowd of people who were congregating in the hallway had suddenly disappeared. When she entered the hallway she saw Murray, who was prepared to do a lot a damage to the church and it's members. Jeanne immediately held her ground and when Murray began shooting she halted his attacks. Shortly after being hit several times Murray took his own life.

Jeanne was one of the seven children of Fred and Kay Assam. Jeanne did not grow up in a religious household, but after her mother became active in the Christian community later in her life, Jeanne took to the religion. She grew more passionate toward the religion and the community in Colorado Springs, where she chose to make her home. She applied for a job at the New Life church where she worked in the call center selling CDs, videos and books. She soon volunteered as a security guard.

Ten years before the New Life shooting, Jeanne had worked for the Minneapolis police force but was fired for cursing at a bus driver and lying about it. No hard feelings from her former co-workers; Sergeant Jesse Garchttp://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.htmlia remembered her fondly. "She has all the skill; she has the desire to serve people and protect. She's trying to figure out if the right way for her to serve is working with the ministry or if the best way is by being a police officer."

Jeanne believes that God helped keep her safe that day and protected her from Murray's violent behavior. She has become a local hero and has also been recognized on a national level.

Sources:
The Denver Post
The Denver Channel

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

"Eleanor shattered the ceremonial mold in which the role of the First Lady had traditionally been fashioned, and reshaped it around her own skills and her deep commitment to social reform. She gave a voice to people who did not have access to power. She was the first woman to speak in front of a national convention, to write a syndicated column, to earn money as a lecturer, to be a radio commentator and to hold regular press conferences."
-Time Magazine in their 1998 Time 100

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (better known as Eleanor Roosevelt) is quite possibly America's most influential first ladies. Although awkward and shy as a young girl, Roosevelt grew into a knowledgeable, powerful woman who would make her mark in American History. Born to Anna Hall and Elliot Roosevelt in 1884, Eleanor was the second of seven children, and the niece of Theodore Roosevelt. Her parents died when she was young (her mother when she was 8 and her father when she was 10) and the young Roosevelt began living with her grandmother in New York where she was educated by private tutors. At age 15, Eleanor was sent t England to attend a girl's school where she met Mademoiselle Marie Souvestre, the headmistress, who had a powerful influence on Roosevelt's thinking. Three years later, she returned to New York where she met Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a distant cousin.

In 1905 she married Franklin and over the next 11 years gave birth to 6 children. During this time she was cut off from her service work in a New York City settlement house, where she had discovered confidence and security. In 1918 Eleanor had a haunting suspicion that Franklin was having an affair. Divorce was threatened, but the issue was resolved. After this incident, Eleanor renewed her relationship with various reformist organizations; focusing her energy on them instead of her marriage. During this time she learned that she had a knack for public speaking and organizing. She formed lifelong friends with other women which heightened Eleanor's sense of security.

In 1921 Franklin Roosevelt, who was the democratic nominee for vice president, became paralyzed with polio. Eleanor took the reigns during this time, traveling the country to discover more about the people that her husband was helping to govern. It soon became clear that the two were a powerful team with the ability to inspire the American public to accept social change. During Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency she traveled through the United States independent of her husband, visiting relief projects, observing living conditions, and bringing about social reform. She often reported back to her husband and helped to advise him in his decisions as president.

When her husband died in 1945 Eleanor expected the media to lose interest in her work as well as her life. But her popularity grew. President Truman appointed her to the United States Delegation to the United Nations. She held the position until 1953, when she resigned. After resigning her position, Roosevelt volunteered with many organizations, was reappointed to the United States Delegation to the United Nations and earned herself a variety of awards. She was also in high demand as a public speaker in the media and in person. She became a well-known writer through her multi-volume autobiography, various columns (including her syndicated column "My Day", which she wrote from 1935 until shortly before her death in 1962), and her monthly question and answer pieces for Ladies Home Journal and McCalls.

In November 1962, Eleanor Roosevelt passed away in her New York home. She remains buried next to her beloved husband at their estate, which is now a national historic site. Eleanor will always be remembered as the "First Lady of the World".

For more information on the FDR National Historic Site, please go here.

Sources:
FDR Library
Time 100

American Soldiers (Past & Present)

"The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."
-Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), during his famous Gettysburg Address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 13, 1863


On March 19, 2003 President George Bush officially announced the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since then hundreds of thousands of Americans have volunteered themselves to travel overseas to fight for the freedom of the Iraqi people from the tyranny they face. So far, there have been nearly 5,000 coalition deaths and over 30,000 soldiers wounded. Whether you agree with President Bush's choice to go to go war or not you can not argue that these people deserve respect. They are putting their lives on the line to fight for the freedom of ourselves as Americans and the freedom of others.

Although our soldiers are currently fighting in Iraq, men and women have been fighting for our freedom from centuries. the American Revolution, the Civil War, World Wars One and Two, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War. These are just a few of the the wars we've been involved in over the past 300 years. On July 4, 1776, exactly 332 years ago, we began a free nation. We earned that freedom and we have continued to fight for it ever since. The hundreds of thousands of men and women over seas have risked their lives to uphold the principles started all those years ago by 56 men, two of which later became President of the United States.

The soldiers at Gettysburg in 1863 endured 51,000 casualties and fought to turn the civil war to favor the Union.

Paul Revere made his famous Midnight Ride in 1775 and warned the rebels that the British were headed toward Lexington and Concord.

In Trenton, New Jersey in 1776 George Washington led his troops into battle on December 25 in a surprise attack on the British. The victory was not only physical but also a moral victory as his soldiers were poorly equipped.

Although these are just a few notable battles and people, but all who have fought for our freedom deserve recognition. To all those who have fought to protect us, we salute you.

For a list of all of the men and women who have sacrificed their lives during the past five years, please go here.

Top 5 Sources:
Antiwar.com
Multied.com
USHistory.com
WhiteHouse.gov
History Place