On this episode of Our American Stories, it is called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Here’s Brian Benjamin sharing the story from his book, Christmas, 1776.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, it is called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Here’s Brian Benjamin sharing the story from his book, Christmas, 1776.
<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">Support the show</a> (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Christmas, 1776

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d252f78a-e7d7-4737-bf67-b0d8018417e5/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dick Erickson was a young Marine helicopter pilot flying over Vietnam when everything went quiet. His radio was dead, his instruments were failing, and the jungle below offered no clear place to land. Alone in the cockpit, he began to pray. What happened next stayed with him for life. In that silence, he felt a calm that didn’t come from training or instinct.

Dick joins us to tell his remarkable story.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dick Erickson was a young Marine helicopter pilot flying over Vietnam when everything went quiet. His radio was dead, his instruments were failing, and the jungle below offered no clear place to land. Alone in the cockpit, he began to pray. What happened next stayed with him for life. In that silence, he felt a calm that didn&rsquo;t come from training or instinct. Dick joins us to tell his remarkable story.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Pilot Who Found God in the Sky Over Vietnam

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ec179484-58fd-4787-9b40-b4dd014c6eaf/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, before haunted houses filled October nights, Halloween in America was a mess. In the early twentieth century, it was less about candy and costumes and more about broken fences, stolen gates, and angry neighbors. Communities were desperate for order, and their answer came from an unexpected place. Schools, churches, and civic clubs began creating haunted attractions: small events meant to channel mischief into something creative.

Author Lisa Morton, whose Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween remains a definitive account, traces how those first haunted houses grew into the elaborate haunted attractions we know today.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, before haunted houses filled October nights, Halloween in America was a mess. In the early twentieth century, it was less about candy and costumes and more about broken fences, stolen gates, and angry neighbors. Communities were desperate for order, and their answer came from an unexpected place. Schools, churches, and civic clubs began creating haunted attractions: small events meant to channel mischief into something creative. Author Lisa Morton, whose <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTrick-Treat-Halloween-Lisa-Morton%2Fdp%2F1780231873&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Ce0ecde7426664c4913f008df24ba2edf%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639270054236131169%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vDovXaKHmhatyF5xxdYQ7aQyrzE89Wk0TjVEk%2F87jII%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween</a> remains a definitive account, traces how those first haunted houses grew into the elaborate haunted attractions we know today.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How Haunted Houses Became a Halloween Tradition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/686ad3b5-4212-45e0-951a-b4dd014c6eb2/transcript

Marker 01

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1846, a group of pioneers set out for California with dreams of a better life. Known as the Donner Party, they fell behind on the trail, took a disastrous shortcut, and became trapped in the Sierra Nevada as winter storms closed in. With supplies gone and snow piling up, survival came at a great cost.

Here’s their remarkable and tragic story.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1846, a group of pioneers set out for California with dreams of a better life. Known as the Donner Party, they fell behind on the trail, took a disastrous shortcut, and became trapped in the Sierra Nevada as winter storms closed in. With supplies gone and snow piling up, survival came at a great cost. Here&rsquo;s their remarkable and tragic story.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The True Story of the Donner Party’s Struggle for Survival

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/64bf2416-77f6-44cd-9662-b4dd014c6eb2/transcript

Christmas, 1776

In 1 playlist(s)

Our American Stories

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips