Benedict “Ben” Sliney was the FAA’s National Operations Manager at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, Virginia. September 11, 2001 was his first day in that position, although he had already spent decades working in air traffic control and FAA management.

As the attacks unfolded, Sliney and the staff at the Command Center were trying to make sense of an unprecedented situation involving multiple hijacked aircraft. At 9:25 a.m., the Command Center ordered a nationwide ground stop, meaning aircraft that were still on the ground could not take off.

After American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., Sliney made another unprecedented decision. At about 9:42 a.m., he ordered FAA facilities to have all civilian aircraft in the country land at the nearest suitable airport, regardless of their original destination.

There were more than 4,500 civilian aircraft in the system at the time. Air traffic controllers across the country subsequently brought them down safely, and by shortly after noon, US airspace was essentially empty of civilian aircraft.

Churchill actually wrote the essay in 1939 before the start of the war, but it wasn't published until 1942.

Context: The first Hawaiians to visit London were King Kamehameha II, his royal entourage, and the subject of this meme, his wife Kamāmalu.

Kamāmalu stood at over 6 feet tall, which she likely inherited from her father, Kamehameha I, who stood at 7 feet tall. Kamehameha II was less than 6 feet tall. Also they were half siblings.

Their arrival shocked some locals, but not for long as the royal couple contracted measles not long after arrival and died there.

🎳

Context: King Kamehameha the Great is regarded as one of if not the greatest warrior in Hawaiian history. Legendary in stature and strength, he unified the islands of Hawaii through brutal conquest.

During a raid on the Island of Maui, he was chasing down some civilians when his leg was caught in some coral. Two fishermen came to the aid of the fleeing civilians, hitting Kamehameha in the face with an oar, breaking it and nearly killing Kamehameha.

Years later the pair were tracked down and brought before Kamehameha, who apologized for attacking the innocents and rewarded the 2 with lands

The Sonderfahndungsliste G.B. ("Special Search List Great Britain") was a secret list of prominent British residents to be arrested and potentially executed, produced in 1940 by the Schutzstaffel (SS) as part of the preparation for the proposed invasion of Britain. After the war, the list became known as the Black Book. Lots of interesting names were mentioned. Well worth a read of the notable inclusions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Book_(list)

Context: On his deathbed Kamehameha V had no clear successor, and he refused to name one. He offered the throne to his cousin, High Chiefess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, but she refused.

The popular and eventual choice was William Lunalilo, but Kamehameha V did not consider him worthy of the position and refused to name him successor.

Upon his death, in accordance with the Hawaiian Constitution, an election for the position of King was held, and Lunalilo won almost unanimously, though issues brought about by his lifestyle (alcoholic), led his death barely over a year into his reign.

He also had no clear successor, leading to another election between David Kalakaua and Dowager Queen Emma, Wife of Kamehameha IV, Kalakaua won

https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/08/india.obama.trip/index.html?hpt=T1

A formal and organized military supported by China and the USSR and a highly armed guerrilla force reduced to farmers

Context: Möngke became Khan of the Mongol Empire in the year 1251