BRIAN THOMAS

During World War II on this  day in 1945, about 30,000 United States
Marines landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima 
from the Imperial Japanese Army.  

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. is 79-years-old today.

Singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive
Smokey Robinson was the founder and front man of the Motown
vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter
and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as
"The Five Chimes" until 1972 when he announced a retirement
from the group to focus on his role as Motown’s vice president,
but Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the
following year. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1987.

CARLATA BRADLEY

The cornerstone of the Executive Mansion was laid in Washington,
DC. on this day in 1792. The building became known as the White
House in 1818.

The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be
played in Major League Baseball. It was between the Boston
Americans of the American League and the Pittsburgh Pirates
of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with Boston
prevailing five games to three, winning the last four.

The Boston Americans

The Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paul Frederic Simon is 77 years old today.

Singer-songwriter Paul Simon is known for his partnership
with Art Garfunkel in Simon & Garfunkel. He went on to find
solo success with albums like Graceland and Still  Crazy
After All These Years. Simon met Garfunkel while both
were performing in Alice in Wonderland for their sixth
grade graduation and they went on to perform at school
dances together.

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.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park,
New York.

It was on this day in 1975.

President Gerald Ford (center) is pushed into his limousine after
Sara Jane Moore (below) took a shot at him as he was leaving the
Post Street entrance of the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco.

,

Sara Jane Moore was a political radical, a follower of Marxism.

 Sara Jane Moore (Kahn) became 88 in February.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1901, President William McKinley (below) died of
gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. His Vice President,
Theodore Roosevelt (above) succeeded him at age 43.     

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   

William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901)

The assassination of McKinley occurred on September 6, 1901.

It was on this day in 1982 Grace Kelly died of severe head injuries.

Photo of the crashed car after dropping more than
100 feet over a retaining wall.

Spectators view the site of the car crash.