Today is Monday, May 30, the 150th day of 2005. There are 215 days left in the year. This is the Memorial Day observance.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France.
On this date:
In 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida.
In 1854, the territories of Nebraska and Kansas were established.
In 1883, 12 people were trampled to death when a rumor that the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge was in imminent danger of collapsing triggered a stampede.
In 1911, Indianapolis saw its first long-distance auto race; Ray Harroun was the winner.
In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., by Chief Justice William Howard Taft.
In 1943, American forces secured the Aleutian island of Attu from the Japanese during World War II.
In 1958, unidentified soldiers killed in World War II and the Korean conflict were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1971, the American space probe Mariner Nine blasted off from Cape Kennedy, Fla., on a journey to Mars.
In 1982, Spain became NATO’s 16th member.
In 1994, Mormon Church president Ezra Taft Benson died in Salt Lake City at age 94.
Ten years ago: In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic demanded guarantees of no further NATO air attacks and de facto recognition of a self-styled Serb state.
Five years ago: President Clinton arrived in Portugal as he opened a weeklong visit to Europe. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey died in Scranton at age 68. Gordon “Tex” Beneke, a singer and sax player with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, died in Costa Mesa, Calif., at age 86.
One year ago: Saudi commandos drove al-Qaida militants from a housing complex in the kingdom’s oil hub, ending a shooting and hostage-taking spree that had left 22 dead, most of them foreigners. Gunmen in Pakistan killed senior pro-Taliban Sunni cleric Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, sparking riots. Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left Jamaica for South Africa, saying it would be his “temporary home” until he could return to Haiti. Buddy Rice won the Indianapolis 500 in the rain.
Today’s Birthdays: Country musician Johnny Gimble is 79. Actor Clint Walker is 78. Actor Keir Dullea is 69. Actress Ruta Lee is 69. Actor Michael J. Pollard is 66. Actor Stephen Tobolowsky is 54. Actor Colm Meaney is 52. Actor Ted McGinley is 47. Actor Ralph Carter is 44. Actress Tonya Pinkins is 43. Country singer Wynonna is 41. Rock musician Tom Morello (Audioslave) is 41. Movie director Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) is 40. Rock musician Patrick Dahlheimer (Live) is 34. Actor Trey Parker is 33. Rapper Cee-Lo is 31. Actor Blake Bashoff is 24.
Thought for Today: “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.” — Jerome K. Jerome, English author and humorist (1859-1927).
