Editorials

On June 14, 1777, 225 years ago, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the Stars and Stripes as the national flag. 

On this date: 

In 1775, the United States Army was founded. 

In 1841, the first Canadian parliament opened in Kingston. 

In 1846, a group of U.S. settlers in Sonoma proclaimed the Republic of California. 

In 1922, Warren G. Harding became the first president heard on radio, as Baltimore station WEAR broadcast his speech dedicating the Francis Scott Key memorial at Fort McHenry. 

In 1940, German troops entered Paris during World War II. 

In 1940, in German-occupied Poland, the Nazis opened their concentration camp at Auschwitz. 

In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled schoolchildren could not be compelled to salute the flag of the United States if doing so conflicted with their religious beliefs. 

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed an order adding the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. 

In 1982, Argentine forces surrendered to British troops on the disputed Falkland Islands. 

In 1985, the 17-day hijack ordeal of TWA Flight 847 began as a pair of Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists seized the jetliner shortly after takeoff from Athens, Greece. 

Ten years ago: The Earth Summit concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Chicago Bulls won the NBA championship, beating the Portland Trail Blazers in game six, 97-93. Mona Van Duyn became the first woman to be named the nation’s poet laureate by the Library of Congress. 

Five years ago: President Clinton opened a yearlong campaign against racism with a commencement address at the University of California, San Diego, in which he defended affirmative action and pleaded with Americans to confront and erase their most deeply held prejudices. A 1939 comic book featuring the first appearance by Batman was auctioned off for $68,500 at Sotheby’s in New York. 

One year ago: The Bush administration announced the Navy would end its bombing exercises on Vieques Island off the coast of Puerto Rico by May 2003. President Bush sparred with European leaders in Sweden over climate change, unwavering in his opposition to a global warming treaty. Mike Gartner, Jari Kurri, Vyacheslav Fetisov and Dale Hawerchuk were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Gene Barry is 79. Former White House news secretary Pierre Salinger is 77. Actress Marla Gibbs is 71. Actor Jack Bannon is 62. Rock singer Rod Argent (The Zombies; Argent) is 57. Real estate developer Donald Trump is 56. Singer Janet Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 56. Rock musician Alan White (Yes) is 53. Actor Eddie Mekka is 50. Actor Will Patton is 48. Olympic gold-medal speed skater Eric Heiden is 44. Singer Boy George is 41. Rock musician Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) is 39. Actress Yasmine Bleeth is 34. Tennis player Steffi Graf is 33. Actress Traylor Howard is 31. Actor Daryl Sabara is 10.