This day in history

[May 08, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Friday, May 8, the 128th day of 2009. There are 237 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered in World War II, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe."

On this date:

In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.

In 1794, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.

In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by Gen. Zachary Taylor were able to beat back the Mexican forces.

In 1884, 125 years ago, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, was born in Lamar, Mo.

In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.

In 1962, the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway.

In 1970, anti-war protests took place across the United States and around the world; in New York, construction workers broke up a demonstration on Wall Street.

In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.

In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the "Son of Sam" shootings that had terrified New Yorkers.

In 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Ten years ago: NATO expressed regret for a mistaken attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, but pledged to pursue the bombing campaign; demonstrators in Beijing threw rocks and smashed cars at the U.S. Embassy. The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Ruth Mace. British actor Sir Dirk Bogarde died in London at age 78.

Five years ago: Former Iraq hostage Thomas Hamill returned home to a chorus of cheering family and friends in Mississippi.

One year ago: Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the U.S. Capitol, where he was surrounded by well-wishers calling him "Mr. President" and reaching out to pat him on the back or shake his hand. Silvio Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy's premier. Country music star Eddy Arnold died near Nashville, Tenn., at age 89

.

Today's birthdays: Comedian Don Rickles is 83. Naturalist Sir David Attenborough is 83. Singer Toni Tennille is 69. Actor James Mitchum is 68. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 67. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 64. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 58. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is 58. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 56. Drummer Alex Van Halen is 56. Actor David Keith is 55. Actor Stephen Furst is 55. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 45. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 45. Country musician Del Gray is 41. Rock singer Darren Hayes is 37. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 34. Singer Ana Maria Lombo (Eden's Crush) is 31. Actress Julia Whelan (WAY'-lan) is 24.

Thought for today: "Men don't change. The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." -- President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972)

[Associated Press]

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