President Abraham Lincoln (above) signed into law a measure calling
for the awarding of a U.S. Army Medal of Honor (above) in the name
of Congress “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall
most – distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other
soldier like qualities during the present insurrection.”

The first U.S. Army soldiers to receive what would become the nation’s 
highest military honor were six members of a Union raiding party who
in 1862 penetrated deep into Confederate territory to destroy bridges 
and railroad tracks between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, 
Georgia.

In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration
available to all members, including commissioned officers, of the U.S.
military. It is conferred upon those who have distinguished themselves
in actual combat at risk of life beyond the call of duty.

Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr.  (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rip Torn, the free-spirited Texan who overcame
his quirky name to become a distinguished actor in theater, television
and movies and win an Emmy in his 60s for his comedy turn on TV’s
"The Larry Sanders Show," has died.

According to his publicist Rick Miramontez,Torn died Tuesday at his
home in Lakeville, Connecticut with his wife, Amy Wright, and two  
daughters Katie Torn and Angelica Page by his side. No cause of
death was given.

Rip Torn in the 1997 movie Men In Black.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1973, Secretariat won the 105th Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and ran the fastest 1 1/2 miles on dirt at 2:24. The horse
became the first since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted
Triple Crown–the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes.

Secretariat Statue located at Belmont Park.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sports Illustrated magazine has been sold for $110 million
to a company that specializes in managing fashion, entertainment and sports brands, including marketing rights to Shaquille O’Neal and Muhammad Ali.

The seller, Meredith Corp., will continue running the print edition and the
website SI.com for at least two years. Its editor and publisher are staying on,
and the magazine will have editorial independence.

According to a statement made by Sports Illustrated Editor-in-Chief Chris
Stone, the deal lets Sports Illustrated grow in new areas such as esports,
while Meredith can continue to "produce independent, award-winning
journalism and storytelling."

The first issue of Sports Illustrated, showing Milwaukee Braves
star Eddie Mathews at bat and New York Giants catcher Wes
Westrum in Milwaukee County Stadium.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1927, Charles A. Lindberg completed the first solo
nonstop airplane flight from New York, crossing the Atlantic Ocean
and landing his Spirit of St. Louis in Paris France.