February 15

Born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, William Stacy joined colonial militia forces at the outbreak of the American Revolution. He was commissioned as a colonel in the Continental Army and fought at the Siege of Boston and the Invasion of Quebec. Captured during the Canadian campaign, he endured imprisonment before being released in a prisoner exchange. After the war, Stacy moved to Marietta, Ohio, becoming one of the first white settlers in the Northwest Territory. He contributed to community development and governance in the new frontier before passing away in 1802. His military service and pioneering spirit reflect the challenges of America’s founding era.

Endicott Peabody (1920–1997) served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II before embarking on a political career that led him to become the 62nd Governor of Massachusetts from 1963 to 1965. A graduate of Harvard and Yale Law School, he championed civil rights and environmental conservation. Peabody later ran for the U.S. Senate and sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. He continued practicing law and remained active in civic affairs until his death.

Roger B. Chaffee was an American naval lieutenant and NASA astronaut selected in the third group of astronauts in 1963. He logged extensive training missions but never flew in space due to his untimely death. Chaffee died alongside Ed White and Gus Grissom during a pre-launch test for Apollo 1 in 1967. As an engineer, he contributed to spacecraft design and mission planning during the early space program. Chaffee's legacy endures through scholarships, memorials, and his role in advancing human space exploration.