On September 7, 1813, according to the most cited—and
Congressionally approved—account, the United States
got its nickname, Uncle Sam.

The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from
Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United
States Army during the War of 1812.

The local newspaper, the Troy Post, picked up on the story
and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance
as the nickname for—and personification of—the U.S.
federal government.

Scholars have uncovered a handful of earlier references
linking the U.S. to the nickname Uncle Sam, but the Troy
Post origin story has stuck as the official one.  

On September 6, 1995, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.
played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking “Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games played.

Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (65)

On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shaking
hands at the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York,
when a 28-year-old anarchist named Leon Czolgosz approached
him and fired two shots into his chest.

Leon F. Czolgosz
(May 5, 1873 – October 29, 1901)

During the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, in the early
morning of September 5, a group of Palestinian terrorists
stormed the Olympic Village apartment of the Israeli athletes,
killing two and taking nine others hostage.

The terrorists were part of a group known as Black September,
in return for the release of the hostages, they demanded that
Israel release over 230 Arab prisoners being held in Israeli jails
and two German terrorists.

The 2005 Stephen Spielberg movie Munich was based
on these events.

DIANE KEPLEY

Beyoncé (Giselle Knowles-Carter) is 44 years young today.

Beyoncé is widely regarded as one of the most culturally
significant figures of the 21st century.

Credited with revolutionizing the music industry, Beyoncé
is often deemed one of the greatest entertainers
and most influential artists in history..