SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1776, Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to break away
from Britain was adopted by the Continental Congress.

On this day in 1964, U.S. President Johnson signed the "Civil Rights
Act of 1964" into law. The act made it illegal in the United states to discriminate against others because of their race.

On this day in 1937, American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart disappeared in the Central Pacific during an attempt to fly around
the world at the equator.

On this day in 1881, Charles J. Guiteau (below) fatally wounded U.S. 
President James A. Garfield in Washington, DC.

It was on this day in 1961.

James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997)

Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning
one in competition for The Philadelphia Story (1940), and
received an Academy Lifetime Achievement award in 1985.

In 1999, Stewart was named the third-greatest male screen
legend of the Golden Age of Hollywood by the American
Film Institute. The Institute has also named five of his
films to its list of the 100 best American films ever made. 

1946

1952

1957

Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window, 1954.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Winston Churchill rallies Britain during World War 2 with his famous "finest hour" speech on this day in 1940.

On this day in 1815, at the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was defeated
by an international army under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon abdicated on June 22.

The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain
on this day in 1812. The conflict began over trade restrictions and
numerous other disputes between the two countries.

James Monroe (April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831)

During the War of 1812, Monroe served in critical
roles as Secretary of State and the Secretary of
War under President James Madison (below).

James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836)

On this day in 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly
across the Atlantic Ocean when she flew from Newfoundland to
Wales.

Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger on this day in 1983.

Sally Kristen Ride
(May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)

Sir James Paul McCartney is 76 years old today.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist of The Beatles, Paul McCartney 
wrote such hit songs for the band as "Penny Lane," "Blackbird"
and "Eleanor Rigby." After his time with The Beatles he formed
the band Wings and embarked upon a solo career. He has earned
21 Grammy Awards across his career. 

Abbey Road studio album by The Beatles, 1969.

SANDY KOZEL

Charles A. Lindberg completed the first solo nonstop airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean on this day in 1927. The trip began May 20.

The American branch of the Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton
on this day in 1881.

Clarissa "Clara" Harlowe Barton (December 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912)

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks (above) was murdered in a
"thrill killing" committed by Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard
Loeb (below) on this day in 1924. The killers were students
at the University of Chicago.

On this day in 1959, the musical "Gypsy" opened on Broadway
and played 702 performances, closing on March 25, 1961 at the
Imperial Theatre.

From left: Sandra Church as Louise, Ethel Merman starred as
Rose, and Jack Klugman as Herbie.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh (below) took off from New
York to cross the Atlantic for Paris aboard his airplane the "Spirit
of St. Louis." The flight took 33 1/2 hours.

On this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart took off to fly solo across the
Atlantic Ocean. She became the first woman to achieve the feat.

The Lockheed Vega 5B flown by Amelia Earhart as seen on display
at the National Air and Space Museum.

In Spain on this day in 1506, explorer Christopher Columbus died in
poverty at age 54. He had been in poor health and bedridden for
some time.

Gilda Susan Radner (June 28, 1946 – May 20, 1989)

Gilda Radner was a comedian, writer, actress, and one of seven original
cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Her
SNL work established her as an iconic figure in the history of American
comedy. 

Radner was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on
May 17, 1989, to undergo a CT scan. She was given a sedative and went
into a coma during the scan. She did not regain consciousness and died
three days later, from ovarian cancer and complications due to intestinal perforation on May 20, 1989; husband Gene Wilder was at her side.

Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, January 30, 1989.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Mark Twain was lauded as the "greatest humorist this country has produced",
and William Faulkner called him "the father of American literature".

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) is 92 today.

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year, her actual birthday on April
21 and her official birthday usually on the second Saturday in June. This
year that official birthday will fall on Saturday, June 9.

The musical "Annie" opened on Broadway on this day in 1977.

Opening night Curtain Call.

On this day in 1918, German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen,
"The Red Baron," was shot down and killed during World War I.

Some of the remains of Richthofen’s plane are inspected by British
officers and soldiers.