Today in History

Today is Saturday, May 2, the 122nd day of 2015. There are 243 days left in the year.

Today[[OpenSingle]]s Highlight in History:

On May 2, 1945, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin, and the Allies reported the surrender of German troops in Italy.

On this date:

In 1863, during the Civil War, Confederate Gen. Thomas [[""]]Stonewall[[""]] Jackson was accidentally wounded by his own men at Chancellorsville, Virginia; he died eight days later.

In 1885, Good Housekeeping magazine was first published in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

In 1890, the Oklahoma Territory was organized.

In 1908, the original version of [[""]]Take Me Out to the Ball Game,[[""]] with music by Albert Von Tilzer and lyrics by Jack Norworth, was published by Von Tilzer[[OpenSingle]]s York Music Co.

In 1936, [[""]]Peter and the Wolf,[[""]] a symphonic tale for children by Sergei Prokofiev, had its world premiere in Moscow.

In 1957, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., died at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

In 1963, the Children[[OpenSingle]]s Crusade began in Birmingham, Alabama, as more than 1,000 black schoolchildren skipped classes and marched downtown to protest racial segregation; hundreds were arrested.

In 1965, Intelsat 1, also known as the Early Bird satellite, was first used to transmit television pictures across the Atlantic.

In 1970, jockey Diane Crump became the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby; she finished in 15th place aboard Fathom. (The winning horse was Dust Commander.)

In 1982, the Weather Channel made its debut.

In 1994, Nelson Mandela claimed victory in the wake of South Africa[[OpenSingle]]s first democratic elections; President F.W. de Klerk acknowledged defeat.

In 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by elite American forces at his Pakistan compound, then quickly buried at sea after a decade on the run.

Ten years ago: Pfc. Lynndie England, the young woman pictured in some of the most notorious Abu Ghraib photos, pleaded guilty at Fort Hood, Texas, to mistreating prisoners. (However, a judge later threw out the plea agreement; England was later convicted in a court-martial and received a three-year sentence, of which she served half.) Greenpeace co-founder Bob Hunter died at age 63.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama traveled to Louisiana to view the response to the BP oil spill, pledging that the government [[""]]will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to stop this crisis.[[""]] Record rains and flash floods in Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee caused more than 30 deaths and submerged the Grand Ole Opry House stage. European governments and the International Monetary Fund committed to pulling Greece back from the brink of default, agreeing on nearly $1 trillion in emergency loans. Actress Lynn Redgrave died in Kent, Connecticut, at age 67.

One year ago: President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN[[OpenSingle]]-geh-lah MEHR[[OpenSingle]]-kuhl) met at the White House, where they threatened tough sanctions on broad swaths of Russia[[OpenSingle]]s economy if Moscow disrupted Ukraine[[OpenSingle]]s May 25 presidential elections. Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr., 95, died in Solvang, California.

Today[[OpenSingle]]s Birthdays: Actor Theodore Bikel is 91. Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 79. Former International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is 73. Actress-activist Bianca Jagger is 70. Country singer R.C. Bannon is 70. Actor David Suchet (SOO[[OpenSingle]]-shay) is 69. Singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin is 67. Rock singer Lou Gramm (Foreigner) is 65. Actress Christine Baranski is 63. Singer Angela Bofill is 61. Fashion designer Donatella Versace is 60. Actor Brian Tochi is 56. Movie director Stephen Daldry is 55. Actress Elizabeth Berridge is 53. Country singer Ty Herndon is 53. Actress Mitzi Kapture is 53. Rock musician Todd Sucherman (Styx) is 46. Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) is 43. Soccer player David Beckham is 40. Actress Jenna Von Oy is 38. Actress Ellie Kemper is 35. Actor Robert Buckley is 34. Actor Gaius (GY[[OpenSingle]]-ehs) Charles is 32. Pop singer Lily Rose Cooper is 30. Olympic gold medal figure skater Sarah Hughes is 30. Rock musician Jim Almgren (Carolina Liar) is 29. Actress Kay Panabaker is 25.

Thought for Today: [[""]]Have you ever observed that we pay much more attention to a wise passage when it is quoted than when we read it in the original author?[[""]] -- Philip G. Hamerton, English artist and essayist (1834-1894).

(Above Advance for Use Saturday, May 2)

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