This day in history

[March 03, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, March 3, the 62nd day of 2011. There are 303 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States.

On this date:

In 1845, Florida became the 27th state.

In 1849, the U.S. Department of the Interior was established.

In 1894, British Prime Minister William Gladstone submitted his resignation to Queen Victoria, ending his fourth and final premiership.

In 1911, actress Jean Harlow was born in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1940, Artie Shaw and his orchestra recorded "Frenesi" for RCA Victor.

In 1945, the Allies fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces during World War II.

In 1961, King Hassan II acceded to the throne of Morocco, following the death of his father, King Mohammed V.

In 1969, Apollo 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to test the lunar module.

In 1974, a Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris, killing all 346 people on board.

In 1991, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video. Twenty-five people were killed when a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 crashed while approaching the Colorado Springs airport.

Ten years ago: A plane carrying members of a National Guard engineering crew crashed in heavy rain near Macon, Ga., killing all 21 people on board. The foot-and-mouth scare made its way from Britain to mainland Europe with the discovery of blisters on the snouts of three pigs in northern Belgium, sparking drastic measures. John Ruiz became the first Hispanic WBA heavyweight champion by defeating Evander Holyfield in a unanimous 12-round decision.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush arrived in Pakistan to meet with top officials, including President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to discuss the war on terror. Former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced by a federal judge in San Diego to more than eight years in prison for corruption.

One year ago: Appearing before a White House audience of invited guests, many wearing white medical coats, President Barack Obama firmly rejected calls from Republicans to draft new health care legislation from scratch. Greece announced painful new austerity measures, cutting salaries for government workers and raising sales taxes as it tried to snuff out a financial crisis threatening Europe's economy. British politician Michael Foot died in north London at age 96.

Today's birthdays: Bluegrass singer-musician Doc Watson is 88. Socialite Lee Radziwill is 78. Movie producer-director George Miller is 66. Actress Hattie Winston is 66. Singer Jennifer Warnes is 64. Actor-director Tim Kazurinsky is 61. Singer-musician Robyn Hitchcock is 58. Actor Robert Gossett is 57. Rock musician John Lilley is 57. Actress Miranda Richardson is 53. Radio personality Ira Glass is 52. Actress Mary Page Keller is 50. Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 49. College Football Hall of Famer Herschel Walker is 49. Rapper-actor Tone-Loc (lohk) is 45. Rock musician John Bigham is 42. Actress Julie Bowen is 41. Country singer Brett Warren (The Warren Brothers) is 40. Actor David Faustino is 37. Singer Ronan Keating (Boyzone) is 34. Rapper Lil' Flip is 30. Actress Jessica Biel is 29. Rock musician Blower (aka Joe Garvey) (Hinder) is 27.

Thought for today: "America is a tune. It must be sung together." -- Gerald Stanley Lee, American clergyman and author (1862-1944)

[Associated Press]

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