1. Established as a state holiday: November 12, 2001, was established as a state holiday to commemorate the contributions of California's veterans. It is known as Veterans Day in the United States, and it honors military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

2. First Occupied by Europeans: On November 12, 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo became the first known European to set foot on the California coast. He claimed the region for Spain and named it "San Miguel."

3. California's State Flower: On November 12, 1903, the golden poppy was officially designated as the state flower of California. The bright orange wildflower is indigenous to the region and can be found blooming throughout the state in the spring and early summer.

4. First Film Festival: The San Francisco International Film Festival, the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas, was founded on November 12, 1957. The festival has since grown into a major cultural event, showcasing groundbreaking films from around the world.

5. America's First Surgeon General: On November 12, 1969, Dr. Howard H. Hiatt was appointed as the first Surgeon General of the United States to focus explicitly on disease prevention and health promotion. He served in the post until 1973, and his tenure included the establishment of the first national smoking cessation campaign.