Today in History

Today is Saturday, June 6, the 157th day of 2015. There are 208 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 6, 1944, during World War II, the liberation of German-occupied western Europe began as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on "D-Day."

On this date:

In 1799, American politician and orator Patrick Henry died at Red Hill Plantation in Virginia.

In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London.

In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corp.

In 1939, the first Little League game was played as Lundy Lumber defeated Lycoming Dairy 23-8 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

In 1955, the U.S. Post Office introduced regular certified mail service.

In 1965, the Rolling Stones single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was released in the United States by London Records, the same day Herman's Hermits performed their latest hit, "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS-TV.

In 1966, black activist James Meredith was shot and wounded as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration.

In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, a day after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes.

In 1984, government forces in India stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar in an effort to crush Sikh extremists; at least 1,000 Sikhs and 200 soldiers were killed.

In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as the remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious "Angel of Death" of the Nazi Holocaust.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton joined leaders from America's World War II allies to mark the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. A China Northwest Airlines passenger jet crashed near Xian, killing all 160 people on board.

Ten years ago: The Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that people who smoked marijuana because their doctors recommended it to ease pain could be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws. A judge upheld Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire's victory -- by 129 votes -- in Washington state's 2004 election. Actor Russell Crowe was arrested for throwing a phone that hit a hotel employee in New York City; he later pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. Death claimed actress Anne Bancroft at age 73 and actor Dana Elcar at age 77.

Five years ago: The Vatican released a working paper which said the international community was ignoring the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and political instability in Lebanon had forced thousands to flee the region. Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open title, beating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

One year ago: Men who'd stormed Normandy's shore 70 years earlier joined world leaders in paying tribute to the 150,000 Allied troops who risked and lost their lives in the D-Day landings. Eric Hill, 86, whose effort to entertain his young son with a simple drawing of a mischievous dog named "Spot" blossomed into a popular series of children's books that sold 60 million copies, died in Templeton, California.

Today's Birthdays: Financier Kirk Kerkorian is 98. Civil rights activist Roy Innis is 81. Singer-songwriter Gary "U.S." Bonds is 76. Country singer Joe Stampley is 72. Jazz musician Monty Alexander is 71. Actor Robert Englund is 68. Folk singer Holly Near is 66. Singer Dwight Twilley is 64. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein (FY'-ur-steen) is 63. Comedian Sandra Bernhard is 60. International Tennis Hall of Famer Bjorn Borg is 59. Actress Amanda Pays is 56. Comedian Colin Quinn is 56. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 56. Rock musician Steve Vai is 55. Rock singer-musician Tom Araya (Slayer) is 54. Actor Jason Isaacs is 52. Rock musician Sean Yseult (White Zombie) is 49. Actor Max Casella is 48. Actor Paul Giamatti is 48. Rhythm-and-blues singer Damion Hall (Guy) is 47. Rock musician Bardi Martin is 46. Rock musician James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn) is 45. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 43. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 42. Rapper-rocker Uncle Kracker is 41. Actress Sonya Walger is 41. Actress Staci Keanan is 40. Actress Amber Borycki is 32. Actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons is eight.

Thought for Today: "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." -- Carl Jung (1875-1961).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.