MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 2001, the U.S. and Great Britain began airstrikes in Afghanistan in response to that state’s support of terrorism and
Osama bin Laden. The act was the first military action taken in
response to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11,
2001.

A cross marked the fence where 21-year-old Matthew Shepard
was robbed, beaten and left to die on this day in 1998. He was
lured by two men pretending to also be gay. Shepard was taken
to a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died six days
later from severe head injuries. The fence has since been torn
down.

Matthew Wayne "Matt" Shepard
(December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998)

Shepard’s death inspired the play The Laramie Project, later
turned into a television movie, countless songs, a foundation
devoted to his memory along with a political lobbying effort
that pressed for, and eventually obtained, a new federal hate
crimes statute named after him. 

From left: Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney
were charged with the murder of Matthew Shepard
and are both serving long prison terms.

John J Mellencamp (previously known as John Cougar Mellencamp)
is 67 years old today.

Singer-songwriter John Mellencamp is best known for his #1 hit song, "Jack
& Diane." He has been nominated for more than ten Grammy Awards and
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

The 9/11 memorial and ground zero today.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Nazi Germany’s troops entered Paris on this day in 1940. As Paris became occupied loud speakers announced the implementation
of a curfew being imposed for 8 p.m.

A French civilian weeping as German soldiers marched into Paris.

Also on this same day in 1940, the Nazis opened their concentration camp at Auschwitz in German-occupied Poland. 

Trans World Airlines Flight 847 was a flight from Cairo to San Diego with in 
route stops in Athens, Rome, Boston, and Los Angeles. On the morning of 
Friday, June 14, 1985 Flight 847 was hijacked shortly after take off from
Athens. The hijackers were seeking the release of 700 Shi’ite Muslims from
Israeli custody.

United States Navy diver Robert Stethem (below) was murdered, and his
body was thrown onto the tarmac. Dozens of passengers were held hostage
over the next two weeks until released by their captors after some of their
demands were met.

Robert Stethem

On this day in 1777, The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the
"Stars and Stripes" as the national flag of the United States. The Flag
Resolution stated "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made
of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars,
white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." On May 20, 1916,
President Woodrow Wilson (below) officially proclaimed June 14 "Flag Day"
as a commemoration of the "Stars and Stripes."

Thomas Woodrow Wilson
(December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924)

Donald Trump played football, soccer, and baseball at the New
York Military Academy as a teenager. He later graduated from 
the prestigious Wharton School of Business.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1963, Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and
killed Lee Harvey Oswald live on national television.

On this day in 1859, Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, published
"On the Origin of Species." It was the paper in which he explained
his theory of evolution through the process of natural selection.

Hijacker Dan Cooper, known as D.B. Cooper, parachuted from a Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000
ransom money on this day in 1971.  

From left: Northwest Airlines First Officer Bill Rataczak, Captain Bill
Scott and Flight attendant Tina Mucklow talk to the media. 

Freddie Mercury of Queen died of AIDS complications at the age
of 45 on this day in 1991.

Farrokh "Freddie" Mercury (Bulsara)

TIM MAGUIRE

It was on this day in 1973.

China’s Manchu dynasty was overthrown by revolutionaries under
Sun Yat-sen on this day in 1911.

    
A plane carrying Palestinian terrorists who hijacked the cruise liner
Achille Lauro was ‘captured’ over Malta forced to land on this day
in 1985.

Movie Legend George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985)

1938

1941

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi
(October 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901) 

Verdi became one of the pre-eminent opera composers in
history. His 26 operas remain extremely popular today.