Today in History

Today is Saturday, June 14, the 165th day of 2014. There are 200 days left in the year. This is Flag Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted a resolution specifying that "the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation."

On this date:

In 1775, the Continental Army, forerunner of the United States Army, was created.

In 1801, former American Revolutionary War general and notorious turncoat Benedict Arnold died in London.

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 1934, Max Baer defeated Primo Carnera with an 11th round TKO to win the world heavyweight boxing championship in Long Island City, New York.

In 1940, German troops entered Paris during World War II; the same day, the Nazis began transporting prisoners to the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, ruled 6-3 that children in public schools could not be forced to salute the flag of the United States.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure adding the phrase "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 1967, the space probe Mariner 5 was launched from Cape Kennedy on a flight that took it past Venus.

In 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered a ban on continued domestic use of the pesticide DDT, to take effect at year's end.

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.

In 1994, Academy Award-winning composer Henry Mancini died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 70.

Ten years ago: A car bomb exploded during rush hour on a busy street in Baghdad, killing 13 people, including three General Electric workers and two bodyguards. The Supreme Court allowed schoolchildren to keep affirming loyalty to one nation "under God," but dodged the underlying question of whether the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional blending of church and state.

Five years ago: The Los Angeles Lakers won their 15th championship, beating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA finals. Anna Nordqvist shot a 4-under par 68 to become the second rookie in a row to win the LPGA Championship. Bob Bogle, 75, lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band The Ventures, died in Vancouver, Washington.

One year ago: The Associated Press reported that Minnesota resident Michael Karkoc, 94, had been a top commander of a Nazi SS-led unit accused of burning villages filled with women and children, then lied to American immigration officials to get into the United States a few years after World War II. (German and Polish authorities are investigating; Karkoc's family has accused the AP of "slanderous allegations.") Major League Baseball came down hard on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, handing out eight suspensions and a dozen fines as punishment for a bench-clearing brawl on June 11.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Marla Gibbs is 83. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is 75. Writer Peter Mayle is 75. Actor Jack Bannon is 74. Country-rock musician Spooner Oldham is 71. Rock singer Rod Argent (The Zombies; Argent) is 69. Real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump is 68. Singer Janet Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 68. Rock musician Barry Melton is 67. Rock musician Alan White (Yes) is 65. Actor Eddie Mekka is 62. Actor Will Patton is 60. Olympic gold-medal speed skater Eric Heiden is 56. Singer Boy George is 53. Rock musician Chris DeGarmo is 51. Actress Traylor Howard is 48. Actress Yasmine Bleeth is 46. Actor Faizon Love is 46. Actor Stephen Wallem (TV: "Nurse Jackie") is 46. International Tennis Hall of Famer Steffi Graf is 45. Screenwriter Diablo Cody is 36. Actor J.R. Martinez is 31. Actor-singer Kevin McHale is 26. Actress Lucy Hale is 25. Pop singer Jesy Nelson (Little Mix) is 23. Country singer Joel Crouse is 22. Actor Daryl Sabara is 22.

Thought for Today: "The flag is the embodiment not of sentiment, but of history." -- President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.