May

May 1–31—Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Celebrate the history and accomplishments of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a group with diverse languages and cultures. Find histories, biographies, and quizzes at www.infoplease.com/spot/asianhistory1.html.

May 1–31—Better Hearing and Speech Month

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association sponsors this month to raise public awareness about how to identify, prevent, and treat speech, language, and hearing disorders. Go to www.asha.org.

May 5—First American in Space

On this date in 1961, Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American to travel in space during a suborbital flight lasting 15 minutes, 22 seconds.

June

June 12—Anne Frank’s Birthday

This German Jewish girl, known to many worldwide through the publication of her diary in 1947, lived in hiding from the Nazis for two years. She died in a concentration camp at the age of 16. For more information, go to www.annefrank.com.

June 14—Flag Day

On this date in 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of America. The day is marked by patriotic observances.

June 19—Juneteenth

In 1865, more than two years after slavery was abolished in the United States, General Gordon Granger went to Galveston Island, proclaimed U.S. sovereignty over Texas, and ordered all slaves there free. The day was made a state holiday in Texas in 1979 and is now celebrated in other parts of the United States. For more, go to www.juneteenth.com.