Catherine A Bernard (1877 - 1966)

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Catherine's lifetime.

In 1877, in the year that Catherine A Bernard was born, on November 21st, Thomas Edison announced his new invention - the phonograph. Recording sound was considered to be Edison's first great invention. On November 29th, he demonstrated the phonograph for the public.

In 1883, she was just 6 years old when on June 16th, children at a children's variety show in Victoria Hall began rushing the stage area and lobby for promised prizes. In the stampede, 183 children of the 1100 present - most of them 3 to 4 years old - were crushed and asphyxiated.

In 1892, Catherine was merely 15 years old when on October 12th, the "Pledge of Allegiance" was first recited in unison by students in U.S. public schools. Composed the previous August by Francis Bellamy, it was to be recited in 15 seconds and originally read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." "Under God" was added in the 1950's.

In 1956, Catherine was 79 years old when on May 20th, the U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb dropped from a plane over Bikini Atoll. Previously, hydrogen bombs had only been tested on the ground. The Atomic Age moved forward.

In 1966, in the year of Catherine A Bernard's passing, on July 1st, Medicare became available after President Johnson signed into law the Medicare Act in 1965. President Truman had received the first Medicare card since he had been the first to propose national healthcare law. insurance.