SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed
the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, NJ.

Map of Delaware River area depicting route George Washington
and his Army made during the crossing. (click to enlarge)

On this day in 1991, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev went on television to announce his resignation as leader of a Communist superpower that had already gone out of existence.

On this day in 1989, ousted Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu
and his wife, Elena, were executed following a popular uprising.

"Silent Night" was performed for the first time, at the Church of
St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria (above) on this day in 1818.

Josephus Franciscus Mohr (December 11, 1792 – December 4, 1848)

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1968, three Apollo 8 astronauts, James A. Lovell,
William Anders and Frank Borman, reached the moon. They
orbited the moon 10 times before coming back to Earth. Seven
months later man first landed on the moon.

From left: astronauts  William A. Anders, James A. Lovell Jr. and
Frank Borman.

Several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private social
club in Pulaski, TN, called the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) on this day in
1865 and still exists today.

Canadian born Reginald A. Fessenden (above) became the first
person to broadcast a human voice and music program over
radio, from Brant Rock, MA.

On this day in 1871, In Cairo, Egypt, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera "Aida"
had its world premiere at the Khedivial Opera House.

Giuseppe Verdi conducting.

ROSS SIMPSON

The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" ‘Twas
the night before Christmas…") was first published on this day in
1823.

Clement Clarke Moore

Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese
war leaders were executed in Tokyo on this day in 1948. They
had been found guilty of crimes against humanity.
        

Joseph Smith’s first vision.

The crew of the U.S. Navy ship, Pueblo, was released by North Korea
on this day in 1968. The Captain of the Pueblo, Commander Lloyd M. Bucher, and 82 of his crew were held for 11 months after the ship
was seized by North Korea because of suspected spying by the U.S.

Cmdr. Lloyd M. Bucher, skipper of the USS Pueblo (2nd from right)
says goodbye to Gen. Charles H. Bonesteel III, commander in chief
of the United Nations Command in Korea, as Pueblo crew members applaud at Kimpo Air Base, South Korea.         
  
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
     

On this day in 1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first non-stop, around-
the-world flight without refueling as it landed safely at Edwards Air
Force Base in California.

ROSS SIMPSON

Romania’s hard-line Communist ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu, was overthrown in a popular uprising on this day in 1989.

The ‘’shoe bomber’’ is sentenced to life in prison by U.S. Federal
Judge William Young.

On this day in 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was
convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide
charges of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.

Alfred Dreyfus standing before a court-martial at Rennes, France.

Singer Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married on this day in 2000
and were divorced November 21, 2008.   

Madonna Louise Ciccone is referred to as the “Queen of Pop”
turned 59 on August 16.