June Dates to Remember

By CABPRO Staff

June 1, 1813 – The American frigate Chesapeake was captured by the British. The captain’s dying words “Don’t give up the ship,” later became the rallying cry of the United States Navy.

June 2, 1865 – The Civil War ends when Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith signs surrender terms.

June 3, 1916 – The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was established when President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act.

June 3, 1942 – The Battle of Midway begins during WWII.

June 4, 1876 – Transcontinental Express train crossed the country from New York City to San Francisco in 83 hours, 39 minutes.

June 4, 1919 – The Senate passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the vote.

June 5, 1933 – FDR took the United States off the gold standard, a monetary system where currency is backed by gold.

June 5, 2004 – 40th United States President Ronald Reagan died, aged 93.

June 6, 1944 – D-Day Allied invasion began in Normandy, France, during WWII.

June 6, 1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy died after being shot the day before by Sirhan Sirhan; his assassination  prompted Secret Service protection for presidential  candidates.

June 10, 1752 – Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a thunderstorm demonstrating the electrical nature of lightening.

June 11, 1979 – Iconic American movie actor John Wayne died in Los Angeles, aged 72.

June 12, 1987 – President Ronald Reagan challenged Soviet leader Gorbachev to ‘tear down’ the Berlin Wall in a speech in West Berlin.

June 14, 1775 – Birth of the United States Army – the Continental Army was created.

June 14, 1777 – Legislation was enacted to create a ‘United States’ flag; first Flag Day observance was June 14, 1877. Flag Day – Fly your Stars and Stripes!!

June 14, 1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower signed an order adding the words ‘under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance.

June 15, 1775 – George Washington was chosen first Commander of the new Continental Army.

June 17, 1579 – Sir Francis Drake of England, sailing in the Golden Hind, dropped anchor in San Francisco Bay.

June 17, 1885 – The Statue of Liberty arrived in pieces in New York harbor, a gift from the French people.

June 18, 1812 – The United States declared war on Great Britain to begin the War of 1812.

June 18, 1983 – Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.

June 19 (third Sunday) – Father’s Day; designated in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson, and made a national holiday by President Richard Nixon in 1972.

June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution, putting it into effect.

June 22, 1944 – FDR signed the G.I. Bill into law.

June 25, 1876 – Battle of the Little Bighorn/Custer’s Last Stand.

June 25, 1950 – Korean War begins.

June 26, 1948 – The United States began the Berlin Airlift following WWII.

June 28, 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles was signed ending WWI exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

June 30, 1971 – The 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the voting age to 18, was ratified when Ohio became the 38th state to approve it.