December 31st

Today's Highlight in History:
On December 31st, 1879, Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent light in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

On this date:
In 1775, the British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec; Montgomery was killed.

In 1862, President Lincoln signed an act admitting West Virginia to the Union.

In 1897, Brooklyn, New York, spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City.

In 1946, President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War Two.

In 1961, the Marshall Plan expired after distributing more than 12 billion dollars in foreign aid.

In 1974, private US citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the first time in more than 40 years.

In 1978, Taiwanese diplomats struck their colors for the final time from the embassy flagpole in Washington, marking the end of diplomatic relations with the US.

In 1985, singer Rick Nelson, 45, and six other people were killed when fire broke out aboard a DC-3 that was taking the group to a New Year's Eve performance in Dallas.

In 1986, ninety-seven people were killed when fire broke out in the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Three hotel workers later pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the blaze.)

In 1997, Michael Kennedy, the 39-year-old son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain in Colorado.

Ten years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir fired Science Minister Ezer Weizman, accusing him of meeting with officials of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Five years ago: Bosnian government officials and Bosnian Serb leaders signed a UN-brokered cease-fire agreement. Russian ground forces launched a ferocious assault on the Chechen capital of Grozny.

One year ago: Europe's leaders proclaimed a new era as eleven nations merged currencies to create the euro, a shared money they said would boost business, underpin unity and strengthen their role in world affairs.

"The past at least is secure."

-- Daniel Webster, American statesman (1782-1862).