September 26

Thomas de Ros inherited the title of 8th Baron de Ros in Yorkshire and came of age during the reign of Henry V. He took part in the later stages of the Hundred Years' War, gaining experience on the battlefields of France. Back in England, he was summoned to Parliament, representing his peers in the House of Lords. He balanced his responsibilities as a warrior with those of a statesman, reflecting the dual roles of medieval aristocracy. His promising career was cut short when he died in 1430 at the age of 24, leaving a legacy of service to crown and country.

Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (1750–1810), was a distinguished officer of the Royal Navy and close contemporary of Admiral Horatio Nelson. He served with valor in the American War of Independence and later commanded the Mediterranean fleet. At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Collingwood took command after Nelson’s death and secured a decisive victory against the combined Franco-Spanish fleet. Elevated to the peerage as Baron Collingwood, he continued to influence naval tactics and strategy. Celebrated for his calm demeanor and tactical acumen, Collingwood’s legacy endures in naval history and lore.

Archibald Willingham Butt (1865–1912) was a United States Army officer. He served as a military aide to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Butt acted as a liaison between the White House and the Army, advising on military matters and protocol. A respected figure in Washington society, he was known for his integrity and sense of duty. Butt perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 while returning from an official trip. His death prompted widespread mourning and underscored the tragic loss of prominent public servants.

Born in 1895, Jürgen Stroop was a German SS officer and general in the Wehrmacht. He is infamous for commanding the brutal suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. Stroop's detailed report, the Stroop Report, documented the destruction of Jewish resistance. After the war, he was tried and convicted of war crimes by Polish authorities. He was sentenced to death and executed in Warsaw in 1952. Stroop's actions remain a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

Arthur Rhys-Davids was born in 1897 in London and became one of Britain's youngest fighter aces. Flying with the Royal Flying Corps, he achieved 21 confirmed aerial victories during World War I. Rhys-Davids is best known for shooting down the younger brother of the Red Baron in 1917. His daring flying style and leadership earned him the Military Cross. Tragically, he was killed in aerial combat only days after his famous victory. Rhys-Davids remains celebrated for his bravery and skill in the early days of aerial warfare.

Vladimír Remek began his career as a military pilot in Czechoslovakia. In 1978, he flew aboard the Soyuz 28 mission, visiting the Salyut 6 space station. Remek's flight marked the first non-Soviet, non-American space journey in history. After the Velvet Revolution, he transitioned to politics and diplomacy, serving in the European Parliament. He held the post of Czech Ambassador to the Russian Federation and engaged in international relations. Remek's pioneering spaceflight remains a milestone in global space exploration.

Richard B. Weldon Jr. (born September 26, 1958) is an American politician and former United States Navy officer. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing his district with a focus on veterans' affairs and community development. During his naval career, he earned commendations for leadership and service overseas. Since leaving public office, he has remained active in local advocacy groups and veterans' organizations. His dual experience in military service and politics has made him a respected voice on defense and public policy issues.