Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM (ET)

Churchill’s D-Day

Operation Overlord was the code name for the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Western Europe during World War II, launched on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). It was the largest amphibious invasion in history, involving 160,000 troops landing across five Normandy beaches. Winston Churchill, while cautiously supportive, initially held reservations about potential heavy losses but ultimately ensured its success as a key strategic architect.

Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, will explore Churchill’s often neglected role in the planning and execution of Operation Overlord. He will use key documents from Churchill’s papers to tell the inside story. ESU members and guests are invited to this Happy Hour which gives an in-depth look at this pivotal moment in history as allied forces opened a “Second Front” in Europe, ultimately liberating France. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Branch.

Wednesday, March 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM (ET)

ESU Mongolia: How English Was Introduced in an East Asian Country

All ESUs worldwide are connected through the ESU International Council. The President of the ESU International Council is Professor Bolormaa also known as Bella from Mongolia. This ESU Happy Hour is honored to welcome Bella to present the history of how the English language was first introduced into the East Asian country of Mongolia and its impact on the country. While the official language is Mongolian, English is taught as a second language in schools and is spoken by a growing percentage of the population. Bella will also tell us the fascinating story of when and how the ESU Mongolia Branch was launched.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM (ET)

Jane Austen and You

Last year marked the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. To understand why she is still regarded with such affection by fans the world over, our ESU Happy Hour guest speaker, John King, will discuss her family, her times, where to start (or return to) her works, and how to get the most reward from reading her novels. Whether you read Austen often, or never, you will enjoy engaging with a writer whose novels have delighted men and women in every corner of the globe for over two centuries. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Atlanta Branch.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM (ET)

The American Revolution: A Civil and a World War

Happy Hour guest speaker, Dr. Henry (Phil) Williams III, president of ESU’s Charlottesville, VA Branch, will describe the early beginnings of the war from 1775 through 1783. He will illustrate the eight-year conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies beginning with the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ending with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally recognized American independence.

Williams will explain that the true history of the Revolution must not be taught just from an American-centric focus, but also how England, the Commonwealth, and Europe viewed and, in fact, taught this period of history quite differently.

Join us as the ESU launches a journey toward this landmark event as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Charlottesville, VA Branch.