Today in History

Today is Thursday, September 17, the 260th day of 2015. There are 105 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

On this date:

In 1862, more than 3,600 men were killed in the Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland.

In 1908, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge of the U.S. Army Signal Corps became the first person to die in the crash of a powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, at Fort Myer, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C.

In 1937, the likeness of President Abraham Lincoln's head was dedicated at Mount Rushmore.

In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied paratroopers launched Operation Market Garden, landing behind German lines in the Netherlands. (After initial success, the Allies were beaten back by the Germans.)

In 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "Sixteen Tons" by Merle Travis for Capitol Records in Hollywood.

In 1964, the James Bond movie "Goldfinger," starring Sean Connery, premiered in London. The fantasy sitcom "Bewitched," starring Elizabeth Montgomery, debuted on ABC-TV.

In 1971, citing health reasons, Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, 85, retired. (Black, who was succeeded by Lewis F. Powell Jr., died eight days after making his announcement.)

In 1978, after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a framework for a peace treaty.

In 1984, Progressive Conservative leader Brian Mulroney took office as Canada's 18th prime minister.

In 1994, Heather Whitestone of Alabama was crowned the first deaf Miss America.

In 2011, a demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests around the U.S. and the world.

Ten years ago: Two passengers were killed, more than 100 people hurt when a Chicago Metra commuter train derailed while changing tracks at high speed. Insurgents assassinated a Kurdish member of parliament, his brother and their driver in an ambush north of Baghdad.

Five years ago: Thousands of cheering Catholic schoolchildren feted Pope Benedict XVI on his second day in Britain, offering a boisterous welcome, as the pontiff urged their teachers to make sure to provide a trusting, safe environment. A scientist and his wife who once worked at a top-secret U.S. nuclear laboratory were arrested after an FBI sting operation and charged with conspiring to help develop a nuclear weapon for Venezuela. (After pleading guilty, Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni was sentenced to five years in federal prison while his wife, Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni, received a year and a day; the U.S. government has never alleged that Venezuela or anyone actually working for it had sought U.S. secrets.)

One year ago: The Republican-controlled House voted grudgingly to give the administration authority to train and arm Syrian rebels as President Barack Obama emphasized anew that American forces "do not and will not have a combat mission" in the struggle against Islamic State militants in either Iraq or Syria. George Hamilton IV, 77, a Grand Ole Opry member who was one of country music's first international ambassadors, died in Nashville.

Today's Birthdays: Actor David Huddleston is 85. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, is 82. Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter is 76. Singer LaMonte McLemore (The Fifth Dimension) is 80. Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni is 72. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson is 70. Singer Fee Waybill is 65. Actress Cassandra Peterson ("Elvira, Mistress of the Dark") is 64. Comedian Rita Rudner is 62. Muppeteer Kevin Clash (former voice of Elmo on "Sesame Street") is 55. Director-actor Paul Feig is 53. Movie director Baz Luhrmann is 53. Singer BeBe Winans is 53. TV personality /businessman Robert Herjavec (TV: "Shark Tank") is 52. Actor Kyle Chandler is 50. Director-producer Bryan Singer is 50. Rapper Doug E. Fresh is 49. Actor Malik Yoba is 48. Rock musician Keith Flint (Prodigy) is 46. Actor Matthew Settle is 46. Rapper Vinnie (Naughty By Nature) is 45. Actor Felix Solis is 44. Rock singer Anastacia is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marcus Sanders (Hi-Five) is 42. Actress-singer Nona Gaye is 41. Singer-actor Constantine Maroulis is 40. NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson is 40. Pop singer Maile Misajon (Eden's Crush) is 39. Country singer-songwriter Stephen Cochran is 36. Rock musician Chuck Comeau (Simple Plan) is 36. Actor Billy Miller is 36. Country singer Desi Wasdin (3 of Hearts) is 32. Rock musician Jon Walker is 30. Actress Danielle Brooks (TV: "Orange is the New Black") is 26. Actress-singer Denyse Tontz is 21.

Thought for Today: "We must not say every mistake is a foolish one." -- Cicero, Roman scholar (106-43 B.C.).

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