December 28

George FitzRoy was born in 1665 as an illegitimate son of King Charles II and Barbara Villiers. He was granted the title Duke of Northumberland in 1683 and held several military commands. As a general, he served in conflicts against the Dutch during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. FitzRoy also acted as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, overseeing the county’s militia. He sat in the House of Lords and maintained royal favor throughout his career. He died in 1716, remembered for his dual roles in military and political spheres.

Born in Quebec City in 1842, Calixa Lavallée moved to the United States to pursue musical studies and performance. He served as a lieutenant in the Union Army's band during the American Civil War, honing his skills as a bandmaster. In 1880 he composed the original music for "O Canada" for a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony in Montreal. The melody was officially adopted as Canada's national anthem a century later, securing Lavallée's place in national history. Throughout his career, he worked as an organist and conductor, championing music education in North America.

Admiral Shigematsu Sakaibara served as a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, commanding forces stationed in the Palau islands. In 1944, under his authority, U.S. prisoners of war were massacred on Peleliu and other locations, resulting in one of the Pacific War's most notorious atrocities. Following Japan's surrender, Sakaibara was arrested by Allied forces, tried for war crimes, and convicted in 1947. He was subsequently executed for his role in ordering the killings. The trial of Sakaibara underscored the emerging principles of international military justice and accountability. His actions remain a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the responsibilities of military command.