Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American
force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution on this day
in 1781.

Lord Cornwallis was one of the most capable British generals of the
American Revolution.

Storming of Redoubt #9.

The storming of Redoubt No. 10.

The victory at Yorktown was honored in a 1783 medallion minted in
Paris and designed there by US Ambassador Benjamin Franklin.

ED DANAHUE

      
The sitcom originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is remembered for its realistic and complex
characters and storylines, in contrast to the simplistic characters and plots typically seen on broadcast television at that time. It was the subject of
consistent critical praise and high ratings during its original run, receiving
twenty-nine Prim Awards,etime Emmy including for Outstanding Comedy
Series three years in a row (1975–1977); Moore received the Primetime
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series three
times. The series also launched three spin-offs: Rhoda (1974–1978),
Phyllis (1975–1977), and Lou Grant (1977–1982). In 2013, the Writer as
Guild of Americ ranked The Mary Tyler Moore Show #6 on its list of the
"101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the colonists weren’t
fighting united under a single flag. Instead, most regiments participating
in the war for independence against the British fought under their own
flags. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in
Philadelphia to create the Continental Army—a unified colonial fighting
force—with the hopes of more organized battle against its colonial
oppressors. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first
“American” flag, the Continental Colors. For some, this flag, which
was comprised of 13 red and white alternating stripes and a Union
Jack in the corner, was too similar to that of the British. George
 Washington soon realized that flying a flag that was even remotely
close to the British flag was not a great confidence-builder for the
revolutionary effort, so he turned his efforts towards creating a new
symbol of freedom for the soon-to-be fledgling nation.

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution
stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and
white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing
a new constellation.” In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson marked the
anniversary of that decree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day.

TIM MAGUIRE

The funeral procession for President John F. Kennedy is pictured 
crossing the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery in  Arlington, VA.

On this day in 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid
to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by
heads of state and representatives from more than 100 countries,
with untold millions more watching on television.

President Kennedy’s widow, Jacqueline, along with brother’s Bob
and Ted Kennedy together lit the “eternal flame”(above) which will
forever burn at the gravesite of JFK.

During the Revolutionary War on this day in 1783, British forces
evacuated New York, their last military position in the U.S. It was
also George Washington’s Triumphal Entry in New York City, as
depicted in the above painting. The events marked the cessation 
of hostilities between Great Britain and its former colonies.

NANCY LYONS

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 508 points on this day in 1987. It was called Black Monday, the worst one-day percentage
decline, 22.6%, in history.

The supersonic Concorde made its first landing at John F. Kennedy
Airport in New York City on this day in 1977.   

Concorde Press Conference at JFK Airport.