This day in history

[September 11, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2009. There are 111 days left in the year. This is Patriot Day.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 11, 2001, America saw its worst day of terrorism. Nearly 3,000 people died when two hijacked jetliners smashed into New York's World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to fall; a commandeered jetliner plowed into the Pentagon; and a fourth hijacked plane was crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania.

On this date:

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1857, the Mountain Meadows Massacre took place in present-day southern Utah as a 120-member Arkansas immigrant party was slaughtered by Mormon militiamen aided by Paiute Indians.

In 1941, groundbreaking took place for the Pentagon outside Washington D.C. That same day, Charles A. Lindbergh delivered a speech in Des Moines, Iowa, in which he said "the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration" were trying to draw the United States into World War II.

In 1954, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC; Miss California, Lee Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1971, former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died at age 77.

In 1972, the troubled Munich Summer Olympics ended.

In 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a violent military coup.

In 1974, an Eastern Airlines DC-9 crashed during a landing attempt in Charlotte, N.C., killing 72 of the people on board.

In 1989, the exodus of East German refugees from Hungary to West Germany began.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton, attending a conference of Asia-Pacific leaders in New Zealand, demanded that Indonesia allow an international force to restore peace in East Timor. Eric Milton pitched a no-hitter for the Minnesota Twins in their 7-0 win over the Anaheim Angels. Serena Williams won the U.S. Open women's title, beating top-seeded Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Five years ago: Parents and grandparents of those lost on Sept. 11 stood at the World Trade Center site and marked the third anniversary of the attacks. Spc. Armin Cruz became the first Military Intelligence soldier convicted in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal as he admitted abusing inmates and received a lighter sentence in return for his testimony against others. Svetlana Kuznetsova overwhelmed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 7-5 in the first all-Russian U.S. Open final. Mike Leigh's "Vera Drake" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the close of the Venice Film Festival. Lyricist Fred Ebb died in New York City; he was 76.

One year ago: Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama put aside politics as they visited ground zero together on the anniversary of 9/11 to honor its victims. ABC News broadcast an interview with John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who said she was ready to be president if called upon, but sidestepped questions on whether she had the national security credentials needed to be commander in chief.

Today's birthdays: Actress Betsy Drake is 86. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is 85. Actor Earl Holliman is 81. Newspaper columnist David S. Broder is 80. Movie director Brian De Palma is 69. Rock musician Mickey Hart (The Dead) is 66. Singer-musician Leo Kottke is 64. Actor Phillip Alford is 61. Actress Amy Madigan is 59. Rock singer-musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 56. Sports reporter Lesley Visser is 56. Actor Reed Birney is 55. Singer-songwriter Diane Warren is 53. Musician Jon Moss (Culture Club) is 52. Actor Scott Patterson is 51. Rock musician Mick Talbot (The Style Council) is 51. Actress Roxann Dawson is 51. Actress Virginia Madsen is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 47. Musician-composer Moby is 44. Business reporter Maria Bartiromo is 42. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 42. Rock musician Bart Van Der Zeeuw is 41. Actress Laura Wright is 39. Rock musician Jeremy Popoff (Lit) is 38. Blogger Markos Moulitsas is 38. Singer Brad Fischetti (LFO) is 34. Rapper Mr. Black is 32. Rock musician Jon Buckland (Coldplay) is 32. Rapper Ludacris is 32. Rock singer Ben Lee is 31. Ed Reed is 31. Actor Ryan Slattery is 31. Actor Tyler Hoechlin is 22. Country singer Charles Kelley (Lady Antebellum) is 28.

Thought for today: "I have seen gross intolerance shown in support of tolerance." -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet and author (1772-1834)

[Associated Press]

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