Today is Monday, Nov. 11, the 315th day of 2019. There are 50 days left in the year. Today is Veterans Day.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Nov. 11, 1972, the U.S. Army turned over its base at Long Binh to the South Vietnamese, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.
On this date:
In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed a compact calling for a “body politick.”
In 1831, former slave Nat Turner, who’d led a violent insurrection, was executed in Jerusalem, Virginia.
In 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice in the Forest of Compiegne (kohm-PYEHN’-yeh).
In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding.
In 1929, the Ambassador Bridge spanning the Detroit River between Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was dedicated.
In 1942, during World War II, Germany completed its occupation of France.
In 1960, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem survived a coup attempt by army rebels. (However, he was overthrown and killed in 1963.)
In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final flight of NASA’s Gemini program.
In 1990, Stormie Jones, the world’s first heart-liver transplant recipient, died at a Pittsburgh hospital at age 13.
In 1992, the Church of England voted to ordain women as priests.
In 1998, President Clinton ordered warships, planes and troops to the Persian Gulf as he laid out his case for a possible attack on Iraq. Iraq, meanwhile, showed no sign of backing down from its refusal to deal with U.N. weapons inspectors.
In 2004, Palestinians at home and abroad wept, waved flags and burned tires in an eruption of grief at news of the death of Yasser Arafat in Paris at age 75.
Ten years ago: For the first time since World War I, the leaders of Germany and France held a joint ceremony to commemorate the end of the conflict, saying it was time to celebrate their countries’ reconciliation and friendship. Longtime CNN host Lou Dobbs announced he was leaving the network. Taylor Swift won four awards, including Entertainer of the Year, at the Country Music Association Awards.
Five years ago: Leaders of Asia-Pacific economies meeting in China agreed to begin work toward possible adoption of a Chinese-backed free-trade pact, giving Beijing a victory in its push for a bigger role in managing global commerce. Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson, 57, a member of the pioneering hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, died in Englewood, New Jersey. Carol Ann Susi, 62, a character actress best known as the unseen Mrs. Wolowitz on “The Big Bang Theory,” died in Los Angeles.
One year ago: World leaders including President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin solemnly marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I at a ceremony in Paris.
Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Narvel Felts is 81. Former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is 79. Americana roots singer/songwriter Chris Smither is 75. Rock singer-musician Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge) is 74. The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, is 74. Rock singer Jim Peterik (PEE’-ter-ihk) (Ides of March, Survivor) is 69. Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller is 68. Pop singer-musician Paul Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 68. Rock singer-musician Andy Partridge (XTC) is 66. Singer Marshall Crenshaw is 66. Rock singer Dave Alvin is 64. Rock musician Ian Craig Marsh (Human League; Heaven 17) is 63. Actor Stanley Tucci is 59. Actress Demi Moore is 57. Actress Calista Flockhart is 55. Actor Philip McKeon is 55. Rock musician Scott Mercado is 55. Actor Frank John Hughes is 52. TV personality Carson Kressley is 50. Actor David DeLuise is 48. Actor Adam Beach is 47. Actor Tyler Christopher is 47. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is 45. Actor Scoot McNairy is 42. Rock musician Jonathan Pretus (Cowboy Mouth) is 38. Actress Frankie Shaw is 38. Musician Jon Batiste is 33. Actress Christa B. Allen is 28. Actor Tye Sheridan is 23. Actor Ian Patrick is 17.
Thought for Today: “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” — President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969).
