CAMILLE BOHANNON
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. on this day in 1982, after a march to its site by thousands
of Vietnam War veterans. About two years later the Three
Soldiers statue was dedicated.
Ellis Island, the gateway to America, shut its doors after processing more
than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892. Today, an estimated 40
percent of all Americans can trace their roots through Ellis Island, located
in New York Harbor off the New Jersey coast and named for merchant
Samuel Ellis (1733-1794), who owned the land in the 1770s. Ellis’s heirs
sold the island to the State of New York in 1808. Today, Ellis Island is one
of the most popular destinations in the National Park system, with over 3
million visitors each year.
Immigrants arrive at Ellis Island in 1907.
The Dinning Hall.
Ellis and Liberty Island today.
TIM MAGUIRE
Actor/producer Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is 45 yeas old today. As
of 2019, his films have earned $7.2 billion worldwide, and he has
placed eight times in annual rankings of the world’s highest-paid
actors. His accolades include an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio at the 88th Academy Awards (2016):
Best Actor, win, for The Revenant.
On November 10, 1969, “Sesame Street,” a pioneering TV show that would
teach generations of young children the alphabet and how to count, made
its broadcast debut. “Sesame Street,” with its memorable theme song
(“Can you tell me how to get/How to get to Sesame Street”), went on to
become the most widely viewed children’s program in the world. It has
aired in more than 120 countries.
The show was the brainchild of Joan Ganz Cooney, a former documentary
producer for public television. Cooney’s goal was to create programming
for preschoolers that was both entertaining and educational. She also
wanted to use TV as a way to help underprivileged 3- to 5- year-old’s
prepare for kindergarten. “Sesame Street” was set in a fictional New
York neighborhood and included ethnically diverse characters and
positive social messages.
Joan Ganz Cooney
