June sixth

Today's Highlight in History:
On June sixth, 1944, the "D-Day" invasion of Europe took place during World War Two as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.

On this date:
In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London.

In 1918, the World War One Battle of Belleau Wood, which resulted in a US victory over the Germans, began in France.

In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation.

In 1933, the first drive-in movie theater opened, in Camden, New Jersey.

In 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission was established.

In 1942, Japanese forces retreated in the World War Two Battle of Midway.

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

In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes.

In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country. (The Israelis withdrew in June 1985.)

In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as the remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious "Angel of Death" of the Nazi Holocaust.

Ten years ago: A federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, declared the 2 Live Crew album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" to be obscene. (The decision was later overturned on appeal.)

Five years ago: US astronaut Norman Thagard broke NASA's space endurance record of 84 days, one hour and 16 minutes, aboard the Russian space station "Mir."

One year ago: The space shuttle "Discovery" returned from a ten-day mission that included a visit to the international space station. At the Tony Awards, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" was named best revival; "Side Man" won best play; "Fosse" was awarded best musical. In tennis, Andre Agassi won the French Open, defeating Andrei Medvedev 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, while in golf, Juli Inkster shot a final-round 1-under 71 for a 16-under 272 total to win the US Women's Open.

"All the historical books which contain no lies are extremely tedious."

-- Anatole France, French writer (1844-1924).