In Washington, D.C., humanitarians Clara Barton  and Adolphus Solomons
founded the American National Red Cross, an organization established to
provide humanitarian aid to victims of wars and natural disasters in
congruence with the International Red Cross.

Barton, born in Massachusetts in 1821, worked with the sick and wounded
during the American Civil War and became known as the “Angel of the
Battlefield” for her tireless dedication. In 1865, President Abraham
Lincoln commissioned her to search for lost prisoners of war, and with
the extensive records she had compiled during the war she succeeded
in identifying thousands of the Union dead at the Andersonville prisoner-
of-war camp.

Paul Allen (left) and Bill Gates.

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018)

Business magnate, investor and philanthropist Paul Allen co-founded
Microsoft alongside Bill Gates in 1975. He owned two professional
sports teams: the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League
and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association,
and was part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, which joined Major
League Soccer in 2009. Allen died in Seattle from complications of
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

On this day in 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became
a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company’s co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. 

TIM MAGUIRE

The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor on this day in1886 by
U.S. President Cleveland. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 152 feet tall. It was originally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World."

Benito Mussolini took control of the Italian government and introduced fascism
to Italy on this day in 1922.

On this day in 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the U.S. that he
had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba.

Microsoft co-founder William Henry Gates III is 62 years old today.

Bill Gates has helped Microsoft become one of the most successful companies in
history. Forbes ranked him the wealthiest person in the world from 1995 to 2009.

He reportedly hacked into his high school’s computer system to make sure there
would be more girls in his classes than boys.

Julia Fiona Roberts is 50 years young today.

Julie Roberts rose to fame as the star of Pretty Woman (1990) 
and won an Oscar for her role in Erin Brockovich in 2000. She
wanted to be a veterinarian, but she ended up signing with Click
Modeling Agency in New York. 

Peter Criss (George Peter John Criscuola)

Criss established the "Catman" character for his Kiss persona.
He turned 71 on December 20.

(FOXNews) – Peter Criss is saying goodbye to the stage. The co-founder
of the rock group Kiss, formed in New York City in January 1973, and co-
author of its hit single "Beth” is retiring with a final show.

On Saturday, June 17, Criss will play what he said is his last U.S. concert
at New York City’s The Cutting Room. The audience can expect a mix of
Kiss classics, his own solo material, and covers he always wanted to
perform live but was told by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, "We don’t
do that; it’s not Kiss." Criss said,"I want to leave the stage happy."