Electronic Magazine

Holidays

Czech Republic: Liberation Day.

France: Victory Day.

Slovakia: Liberation Day.

World Red Cross Day.

Norway: Liberation Day.

Feast day of St. Indract, St. Odger, St. Victor, St. Wiro, St. Peter of Tarentaise, St. Benedict II, pope, St. Boniface IV, pope, St. Gibrian, St. Plechelm, St. Desideratus of Bourges, and St. Acacius.

Events

1541 – Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River, which he called Rio de Espiritu Santo.

1794 – The United States Post Office was established.

1846 – The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, with a victory for General Zachary Taylor’s forces.

1886 – Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavored syrup for Coca-Cola.

1886 – The Presidential Succession law was passed in the U.S., providing for succession to presidency in the event of the death of the President and/or Vice President.

1902 – On the Caribbean island of Martinique, the volcano Mount Pelée erupted, killing 30,000 people.

1945 – President Harry Truman announced the end of World War II in a radio address.

1945 – V-E Day {Victory in Europe) was celebrated throughout the free world. Germany surrendered in a second ceremony, in Berlin.

1970 – The Beatles 13th, and last, album, “Let It Be,” was released.

1973 – Militant Native Americans who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks, surrendered.

2005 – The new Canadian War Museum opens in Ottawa, Ontario.

Births

1828 – Jean Henri Dunant, Swiss philanthropist, founder of the Red Cross and YMCA, first recipient (jointly) of the Nobel Peace Prize.

1847 – Oscar Hammerstein I, American playwright, producer.

1884 – Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States of America (1945-1953).

1905 – Roberto Rossellini, Italian film director.

1926 – David Attenborough, English naturalist and broadcaster.

1953 – Alex Van Halen, Dutch drummer and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen.

1975 – Enrique Iglesias, Spanish singer.

Deaths

1994 – George Peppard, American actor.

1998 – Bebe Rebozo (born Charles Gregory Rebozo), American banker and Watergate figure.

Source: Reference.com