What is National Winston Churchill Day?
On April 9th, National Winston Churchill Day is commemorated the day he was made an honorary citizen of the United States.
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, earned his reputation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, both in politics and military.
Winston Churchill attended a ceremony for honorary citizenship presided over by President John F. Kennedy on this day in 1963. Although Churchill was unable to attend the service, his son and grandson attended.
Although his citizenship is questionable, Churchill can certainly trace his roots back to Virginia by way of Brooklyn, New York. Jennie Jerome, an American, was his mother. John Spencer and Winston were born after her marriage to Lord Randolph Churchill.
It was the first time in U.S. history that an honorary citizenship was granted. Since then, only seven other honorary citizenships have been granted. Six of those, six have been posthumous awards. Mother Teresa was the only other honorary citizenship during a person's lifetime in 1996.
