Google has made a rather interesting decision with what it chose to utilize its famous “Doodle” feature to commemorate.
The company frequently rolls out various versions of its logo on its search engine to commemorate holidays, events, or notable individuals.
On Monday, May 6, Google chose to celebrate the 171st birthday of Angelo Moriondo, who is credited with patenting the first espresso machine.
In a tweet, the Google Doodles account wrote, “Monday morning coffee.”
“Start off the week strong with today’s [Google Doodle] celebrating the birthday of Angelo Moriondo, the Italian inventor who patented world’s first known espresso machine,” it added.
Google also explained that the “stop-motion Doodle was painted entirely with… coffee!”
#DYK today's stop-motion Doodle was painted entirely with… coffee! ☕☕☕
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) June 6, 2022
Check out the behind-the-scenes process for the artwork by Doodler, Olivia When 🎨 pic.twitter.com/un1QWORJzh
Moriondo’s invention has had a lasting impact, and probably millions of people around the globe savor espresso every day.
But there is another event that took place on a separate June 6 that Google did not commemorate: D-Day.
On May 6, 1944, more than 150,000 British, American, and Canadian soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. Nazi Germany surrendered just over a year later.
Google’s decision to celebrate Moriondo’s 171st birthday is interesting. It does not seem like a particularly significant year — such as the 75th or 100th, for example.
And clearly, the lack of a significant anniversary has not stopped Google from honoring a person or an event.
On June 4, Google chose to honor Kiyoshi Kuromiya, an LGBTQ+ activist, with its Doodle. As it noted at the time, “On this day in 2019, Kuromiya was inducted to the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall National Monument.”
That Doodle was not commemorating Kuromiya’s birthday or dead, but rather his induction into a “wall of honor.”
In celebration of Pride Month, today’s #GoogleDoodle honors the life of Kiyoshi Kuromiya—a civil rights activist who was influential in the movements for LGBTQ+ social justice, HIV/AIDS education, and gay liberation.
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) June 4, 2022
Learn more here → https://t.co/1sbzNjOc4L#Pride pic.twitter.com/ZhQzpmls9Y
This year is not any particular special anniversary of D-Day.
But the sacrifice of those who fought and died to bring an end to the evil regime that systematically killed 6 million Jews should never be forgotten or passed over — and certainly not for the birthday of the inventor of the espresso machine.