While the Rest of the World Celebrates Pi Day…
This Old Cantilever Train Signal in Needles, California, was dedicated on Pi Day 2015 (i.e. 14 March 2015).
According to City of Needles Mayor Edward T. Paget, Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad donated the old railroad cantilever signal in early 2013, the Friends of the Needles Centennial raised money for the moving and placement project, and the City of Needles Public Works Department Crew Members removed the old railroad cantilever signal from its railroad side location on the west end of Needles, California in the spring of 2013.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Every year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green.
About Our Staff: Tom O’Connor
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Transportation economics, cost analysis, regulatory analysis, management audit, litigation support, process mapping and process improvement, full range of negotiations services, and market research.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually in the United States on December 7, is to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, by Pub.L. 103–308, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day. It is a tradition to fly the Flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.
On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, without warning and without a declaration of war, killing 2,403 American non-combatants, and injuring 1,178 others. The attack sank two U.S. Navy battleships and damaged five others. It also damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged.
Amtrak and Coronavirus Safety
Amtrak is leading the way by setting a new standard of travel with enhanced safety and cleaning measures. With a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have studied, analyzed and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience – from beginning to end – for the safety and health of our people and travelers.
Ready to see how we’ve re-envisioned your ride? Watch Roger Harris, Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer, explain how we have focused on making sure every step of your journey is safe and relaxing.
Transcript Intro: Hi – I’m Roger Harris, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at Amtrak. We have re-imagined every part of your experience to make travel safe and secure.
Using the Amtrak App: Our commitment to health and safety starts with the Amtrak app where you can book your ticket and view train capacity. If your train offers Reserved Seating, you can also make that selection here. Arrival Tips: Customers are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes before departure or 60 minutes if in need of ticketing or baggage assistance. You’ll receive an e-mail confirmation before your trip, highlighting reservation details and if you opt-in to trip notifications, you’ll also receive status updates.
Mask Policy: We all need to look out for each other. While in stations, onboard and in all public places, Amtrak requires customers and employees wear a face mask that fully covers the entire mouth and nose.
Station Safety Enhancements: We’re utilizing EPA-registered disinfectants and we’ve enhanced cleaning frequency of commonly used surfaces such as door handles, counter tops, seating areas and Quik-Trak kiosks. To reduce crowds, Amtrak app users who opt-in can now receive gate and track information via push notification at select stations. We are also displaying physical distance stickers and signage throughout our stations, including seating and boarding areas.
New Onboarding Experience: There’s a new boarding process at our busiest stations to create safe spacing. Boarding times have been extended to provide plenty of time for customers to reach their seats. Our mask policy doesn’t change during the journey. All customers and employees must continue wearing a face covering or mask, unless they are in one of our private rooms. And if you’re riding on Acela, you now have peace of mind knowing passengers have a reserved seat. Use the platform floor signs to locate the best door to enter when the train arrives.
Remaining Contact-Free Onboard: Feel free to press the “automatic door open” button with your foot when moving between cars for a contact-free travel experience. We are limiting bookings on most trains to promote physical distancing. Individuals may use the seat next to them for personal belongings, while friends and family will easily find seats together. Continuing the contact-free experience, we recommend using eTickets, which conductors can scan from your device. In addition to deep cleaning and sanitizing, all of our trains are equipped with onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every 4-5 minutes.
Café Car Enhancements: In the café car, signage, protective plastic barriers, hand sanitizer dispensers and markers leading to the counter promote physical distancing. We are also temporarily offering café service as carryout only. Disembarking Safely When the train is approaching your stop, conductors will make announcements regarding where and when to disembark to minimize door crowding.
Conclusion: Leveraging our full-time medical director, CDC guidance, and public health and safety experts, we continue to assess and improve our procedures so that you can travel with us safely.
For more information, download the Amtrak app, visit Amtrak.com/coronavirus, join Amtrak Guest Rewards and follow us on social media.
Thank you for joining us.
Happy Fourth of July!
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain.
Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “God Bless America”, “America the Beautiful”, “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”, “This Land Is Your Land”, “Stars and Stripes Forever”, and, regionally, “Yankee Doodle” in northeastern states and “Dixie” in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.
A bit of audio for your listening pleasure, as played by Vladimir Horowitz…
Memorial Day 2020
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.
The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after theAmerican Civil War to commemorate the Union andConfederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
A tribute to the men and women who fearlessly defend the freedoms we all enjoy. God bless them.
December 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually in the United States on December 7, is to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, by Pub.L. 103–308, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day. It is a tradition to fly the Flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.
On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, without warning and without a declaration of war, killing 2,403 American non-combatants, and injuring 1,178 others. The attack sank two U.S. Navy battleships and damaged five others. It also damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged.
Many Thanks to Our Veterans
The observance of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, began a century ago.
In the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Allied nations and Germany declared an armistice – a temporary cessation of hostilities – in World War I. Commemorated as Armistice Day the next year, Nov. 11 became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938.
After World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to U.S. veterans of all wars.