November 11th
Today in 1839,the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)officially opened in Lexington, Virginia.
Today in 1865,Mary Edward Walker,the first Army female surgeon, was awarded Medal of Honor – the only female to ever receive the honor. It was rescinded in 1917…because she’d never actually been enlisted (as women weren’t allowed). She refused to return the medal, however, and died two years later. The wrong was ultimately made right in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter – and he officially restored her honor.
Today in 1926,US Route 66 was established.
Today in 1938,following Kristallnacht, all Jews in Germany were forced to wear the Star of David.
Today in 1939,Kate Smith first performed Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" for Armistice Day.
Today in 1944,the NY Rangers set NHL record of 25 games without a win.
Today in 1918,World War One came to an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany.
Today in 1921,President Warren G. Harding dedicated the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Today in 1923,the Eternal Light Flagstaff was dedicated at Madison Square Park in New York City in memory of all New York soldiers who died in World War I.
Today in 1938,Mary Mallon – aka the infamous "Typhoid Mary"She was a cook in New York City who was believed to have passed on the disease to at least 53 people in America alone. How and why? Pretty simple. As the first "healthy carrier" of typhoid fever in the United States, she didn’t understand how someone ‘not sick’ could spread disease.
Today in 1942,President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure lowering the minimum draft age from 21 to 18.
Today in 1981,A. Dodgers' lefty Fernando Valenzuela became the first pitcher to win "Rookie of the Year"and the Cy Young Award in the same season.
Today in 1983,President Reagan became the first US President to address the Japanese legislature.
Today in 1985,NBC-TV premiered "An Early Frost,"the first important TV movie to deal with AIDS. The film starred Aidan Quinn, Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara.
Today in 1987,Van Gogh's "Irises"sold for record $53.6-million at auction.
Today in 1987, Judge Anthony Kennedy was nominated to Supreme Court.
Today 1988, the oldest known insect fossils (390-million years) reported in “Science.”
Today in 1992,the Church of England voted to ordain women as priests.
Today in 1993,a bronze statue honoring the more than 11,000 American women who had served in the Vietnam War was dedicated in Washington D.C.
Today in 1994,the movie, "The Santa Clause," starring Tim Allen,opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1994,Bill Gates bought Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex" for $30.8-million. It was the most expensive book ever sold.
Today in 2000, 155 skiers and snowboarders died when a cable car caught fire in an alpine tunnel near Kaprun, Austria.
Today in 2002,Bill Gates pledged $100-million to fight AIDS in India.
Today in 2004,Yasser Arafat's death was confirmed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Mahmoud Abbas was elected PLO chairman minutes later.
Today in 2014,the captain of the South Korean ferry, which sank the previous April,was found guilty of gross negligence and was sentenced to 36 years in prison.
Today in 2015,a flawless 12-carat Blue Moon Diamond sold for $48.4-million at auction in Geneva.
Today in 2015, officials in Montreal began a controversial dumping of raw sewage (2.1B- gallons) into the St Lawrence River.
Today in 2017, a Nationalist march in Warsaw, Poland drew 60-thousand, coinciding with country's independence day.