Today in History

Today is Sunday, June 14, the 165th day of 2009. There are 200 days left in the year. This is Flag Day.

Today's Highlight in History: On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the Stars and Stripes as the national flag.

On this date: In 1775, the Continental Army, forerunner of the United States Army, was created.

In 1801, former American Revolutionary War General and notorious turncoat Benedict Arnold died in London.

In 1846, a group of U.S. settlers in Sonoma proclaimed the Republic of California.

In 1909, actor and folk singer Burl Ives was born in Hunt City, Ill.

In 1919, John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown embarked on the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.(Flying a Vickers Vimy biplane bomber, they took off from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada and arrived 16 1/2 hours later in Clifden, Ireland.) In 1940, German troops entered Paris during World War II; the same day, the Nazis opened the Auschwitz (OWSH'-vitz) concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

In 1943, the Supreme Court, in West Virginia State Board of education v. Barnette, ruled that children in public schools could not be forced to salute the flag of the United States.

In 1954, the words "under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 1967, the space probe Mariner 5 was launched from Cape Kennedy on a flight that took it past Venus.

In 1985, the 17-day hijack ordeal of TWA Flight 847 began as a pair of Lebanese Shiite (SHEE'-eyet) Muslim extremists seized the jetliner shortly after takeoff from Athens, Greece.

Ten years ago: About 15,000 NATO peacekeepers spread out across Kosovo, including a convoy of about 1,200 U.S. Marines. The Supreme Court opened the door to full broadcast advertising of casino gambling, ruling a federal ban aimed at protecting compulsive gamblers violated free-speech rights.

Five years ago: A car bomb exploded during rush hour on a busy street in Baghdad, killing 12 people five of them foreigners working to rebuild Iraq's power plants. The Supreme Court allowed schoolchildren to keep affirming loyalty to one nation "under God," but dodged the underlying question of whether the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional blending of church and state.

One year ago: Iran rejected a six-nation offer of incentives to stop enriching uranium, prompting President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to jointly warn Tehran anew during a news conference in Paris against proceeding toward a nuclear bomb.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Gene Barry is 90. Actress Marla Gibbs is 78. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is 70. Writer Peter Mayle is 70. Actor Jack Bannon is 69. Country-rock musician Spooner Oldham (Drive-By Truckers) is 66. Rock singer Rod Argent (The Zombies; Argent) is 64. Real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump is 63. Singer Janet Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 63.

Rock musician Barry Melton is 62. Rock musician Alan White (Yes) is 60. Actor Eddie Mekka is 57. Actor Will Patton is 55. Olympic gold-medal speed skater Eric Heiden (HY'-dun) is 51. Singer Boy George is 48. Rock musician Chris DeGarmo is 46. Actress Yasmine Bleeth is 41. Actor Faizon Love is 41. Tennis player Steffi Graf is 40. Actress Traylor Howard is 38. Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Film: "Juno") is 31. Actor Daryl Sabara is 17.

Thought for Today: "There is the National flag. He must be cold, indeed, who can look upon its folds rippling in the breeze without pride of country. If in a foreign land, the flag is companionship, and country itself, with all its endearments." Charles Sumner, American author (1811-1874).

(Above Advance for Use Sunday, June 14)


Copyright 2009, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-07-09 0849CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list