This day in history

[August 07, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Aug. 7, the 219th day of 2009. There are 146 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Aug. 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart, a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and noncommissioned officers.

On this date:

In 1789, the U.S. War Department was established by Congress.

In 1882, the famous feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky erupted into full-scale violence as one member of the Hatfield clan was mortally wounded by three McCoy brothers, who ended up being slain in turn.

In 1927, the Peace Bridge between the United States and Canada was dedicated during ceremonies attended by Prince Edward of Wales, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and U.S. Vice President Charles Dawes.

In 1942, U.S. and allied forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.

In 1947, the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried a six-man crew 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago; all six crew members reached land safely.

In 1959, the United States launched the Explorer 6 satellite, which sent back images of the Earth.

In 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.

In 1974, French stuntman Philippe Petit repeatedly walked a tightrope strung between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center.

In 1989, a plane carrying U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, and 14 others disappeared over Ethiopia. (The wreckage of the plane was found six days later; there were no survivors.)

In 1998, terrorist bombs at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killed 224 people, including 12 Americans.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton, during a visit to his home state of Arkansas, promised to devote the rest of his presidency to erasing poverty. Wade Boggs became the first player to homer for his 3,000th hit in Tampa Bay's 15-10 loss to Cleveland.

Five years ago: Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi signed an amnesty for minor criminals. Greg Maddux became the 22nd pitcher in major league history to reach 300 victories, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 8-4 victory over San Francisco. Celebrated oil field firefighter Paul "Red" Adair died in Houston at age 89.

One year ago: President George W. Bush, speaking in Bangkok, Thailand, praised the spread of freedom in Asia while sharply criticizing oppression and human rights abuses in China, Myanmar and North Korea; the president then traveled to Beijing to attend the opening of the Olympic games. A U.S. military jury at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base gave Osama bin Laden's driver a surprisingly light 5 1/2-year sentence for aiding terrorism, making him eligible for parole in just five months. (The U.S. later transferred Salim Hamdan to his home country of Yemen, which released him in January 2009.)

Today's birthdays: Writer-producer Stan Freberg is 83. R&B singer Herb Reed (The Platters) is 81. Magician, author and lecturer James Randi is 81. Former baseball pitcher Don Larsen is 80. Bluesman Magic Slim is 72. Actress Verna Bloom is 70. Humorist Garrison Keillor is 67. Singer B.J. Thomas is 67. Singer Lana Cantrell is 66. Actor John Glover is 65. Actor David Rasche is 65. R&B singer Harold Hudson is 60. Former diplomat, talk show host and activist Alan Keyes is 59. Country singer Rodney Crowell is 59. Actress Caroline Aaron is 57. Comedian Alexei Sayle is 57. Actor Wayne Knight is 54. Rock singer Bruce Dickinson is 51. Marathon runner Alberto Salazar is 51. Actor David Duchovny is 49. Country musician Michael Mahler (Wild Horses) is 48. Actor Harold Perrineau is 46. Jazz musician Marcus Roberts is 46. Country singer Raul Malo is 44. Actress Charlotte Lewis is 42. Actress Sydney Penny is 38. Actor Michael Shannon is 35. Actress Charlize Theron is 34. Rock musician Barry Kerch (Shinedown) is 33. Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler is 33.

Thought for today: "Happiness, it seems to me, consists of two things: first, in being where you belong, and second -- and best -- in comfortably going through everyday life, that is, having had a good night's sleep and not being hurt by new shoes." -- Theodor Fontane, German author (1819-1898)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.