SANDY KOZEL

Jack Roosevelt Robinson
(January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972)

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, become the first
African American player in Major League Baseball when he
stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the
Brooklyn Dodgers.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal
arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA (now located in West Virginia). He was
hoping to instigate a wider slave rebellion.

"John Brown’s Fort" at Harpers Ferry.

John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859)

On this day in 1987, Rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the
abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She
was trapped for 58 hours.

Jessica McClure Morales turned 32 on March 26.

SANDY KOZEL

The amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson, was approved and signed by John Hancock, the
President of the Continental Congress in America on this day
in 1776.

The U.S. Military Academy officially opened at West Point, NY. on
this day in 1802.

Lou Gehrig retired from major league baseball on this day in 1939.

Lou Gehrig’s gives his infamous retirement speech for the New York Yankees. It was one of the most memorable sports speeches of all
time.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

It was on this day in 1994.

Elian Gonzalez was reunited with his father on this day in 2000. He
had to be taken from his Miami, FL. relatives by U.S. agents in a
predawn raid (below).

Elián González turned 24 on December 6.

At noon on this day in 1889, the Oklahoma land rush officially began
as thousands of Americans raced for new, unclaimed land.

The first "Earth Day" was observed by millions of Americans on
this day in 1970.

John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is 81 years old today.

Actor Jack Nicholson is known for playing dark, psychopathic characters
such as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1977) and Frank Costello in The
Departed (2008). He won Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in 
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and As Good As it Gets (1997) 
and for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment (1983). He also
received praise for his roles in Chinatown (1974) and About Schmidt 
(2002) and for portraying the Joker in 1989’s Batman. 

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1948, U.S. President Truman signed executive orders
that prohibited discrimination in the U.S. armed forces and federal employment.

Fidel Castro began his revolt on this day in 1953 against Fulgencio Batista with
an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. Castro eventually
ousted Batista six years later.

Formerly the Moncada Army Barracks (above) now a school and
museum in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

It was on this day in 1952.

Born on this day in 1856.

Sir Michael Philip Jagger is 74 years old today.

Mick Jagger is one of the most influential figures in the history of rock and roll
as frontman of The Rolling Stones. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame with the Stones in 1989. He met future Rolling Stones guitarist
Keith Richards in primary school. He initially intended on going into politics
or economics. In 2003, he was knighted.

Mick Jagger has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone
magazine over twenty times since 1968.