Veteran’s Day is an annual holiday in the United States that honors those serving in the Armed Forces: U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. To learn more, visit the VA Kids website.

33 years ago on November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, nicknamed the “Mighty Fitz” sank in the waters of Lake Superior.  The Great Lakes freighter was the largest ship on the Great Lakes until the 1970s.  On the night of November 10, 1975, strong gale force winds with waves as high as 35 feet sank the ship so fast it could not send a distress signal.  The ship sank 530 feet below the water 17 miles from Whitefish Bay.

Visit the SS Edmund Fitgerald Online website to learn more about the ship, crew and captain.  Also, be sure to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum next time you are at Whitefish Point.

Children and adults will read together at events nationwide on October 2, in schools, libraries, stores, hotels, playgrounds, offices, and homes.

This year’s story is:

Corduroy

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record 2008 Special Edition
by Don Freeman (Illustrator)

Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time. Yet as soon as Lisa sees him, she knows that he’s the bear she’s always wanted. Her mother, though, thinks he’s a little shopworn — he’s even missing a button! Still, Corduroy knows that with a bit of work he can tidy himself up and be just the bear for Lisa. And where better to start than with a quick search through the department store for a new button!

For lesson ideas and other reading tools, click here.