This Day in History

By The Standard Staff - 06/05/2008

Today Friday, June 6, is the 158th day of 2008. There are 208 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight: On June 6, 1944, the “D-Day” invasion of Europe took place during World War II as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.

On this date: In 1918, American Marines suffered heavy casualties as they launched their eventually successful counteroffensive against German troops in the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood in France.

In 1933, the first drive-in movie theater was opened by Richard Hollingshead in Camden County, N.J. (The movie shown was “Wives Beware,” an Adolphe Menjou comedy previously released under the title “Two White Arms.”) In 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission was established.

In 1966, black activist James Meredith was shot and wounded as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration.

In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, a day after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

Birthdays Actress Billie Whitelaw is 76. Civil rights activist Roy Innis is 74. Singer Levi Stubbs is 72. Country singer Joe Stampley is 65. Actor Robert Englund is 59. Folk singer Holly Near is 59. Singer Dwight Twilley is 57. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein is 54. Comedian Sandra Bernhard is 53. Tennis player Bjorn Borg is 52. Actress Amanda Pays is 49. Comedian Colin Quinn is 49. Actor Jason Isaacs is 45. Rock musician Sean Yseult (White Zombie) is 42. Actor Max Casella is 41. Actor Paul Giamatti is 41. Rock musician Bardi Martin is 39. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 36. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 35. Actress Staci Keanan is 33.

Worth repeating ...

“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.” — Paul Valery, French poet (1871-1945)