This day in history

[June 06, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Monday, June 6, the 157th day of 2011. There are 208 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 6, 1944, during World War II, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on "D-Day," beginning the liberation of German-occupied western Europe.

On this date:

In 1523, Sweden's parliament elected military leader Gustavus Vasa to be the next king; he became King Gustavus I.

In 1799, American politician and orator Patrick Henry died at Red Hill Plantation in Virginia.

In 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution.

In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London.

In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corp.

In 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission was established.

In 1961, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, 85, died in Kusnacht, near Zurich.

In 1966, black activist James Meredith was shot and wounded as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration.

In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes.

In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as the remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious "Angel of Death" of the Nazi Holocaust.

Ten years ago: Democrats formally assumed control of the U.S. Senate after the decision of Vermont Republican James Jeffords to become an independent. A jury in Los Angeles awarded more than $3 billion to lifelong smoker Richard Boeken (BOH'-ken), deciding that tobacco giant Philip Morris was responsible for his incurable lung cancer. (The jury award was reduced by a Superior Court judge to $100 million, then cut to $50 million by an appeals court; the U.S. Supreme Court refused in March 2006 to consider tossing out the award altogether; Boeken died in 2002.)

Five years ago: Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson acknowledged a stolen computer contained personal data on about 2.2 million active-duty military, Guard and Reserve personnel -- not just 50,000 as initially believed. Iran and the United States had a rare moment of agreement, using similar language to describe "positive steps" toward an accord on a package of incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment. Soul musician Billy Preston died in Scottsdale, Ariz., at age 59.

One year ago: The Vatican released a working paper which said the international community was ignoring the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and political instability in Lebanon had forced thousands to flee the region. Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open title, beating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Today's birthdays: Actress Billie Whitelaw is 79. Civil rights activist Roy Innis is 77. Singer-songwriter Gary "U.S." Bonds is 72. Country singer Joe Stampley is 68. Actor Robert Englund is 64. Folk singer Holly Near is 62. Singer Dwight Twilley is 60. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein (FY'-ur-steen) is 59. Comedian Sandra Bernhard is 56. International Tennis Hall of Famer Bjorn Borg is 55. Actress Amanda Pays is 52. Comedian Colin Quinn is 52. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 52. Rock musician Steve Vai is 51. Rock singer-musician Tom Araya (Slayer) is 50. Actor Jason Isaacs is 48. Rock musician Sean Yseult (White Zombie) is 45. Actor Max Casella is 44. Actor Paul Giamatti is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Damion Hall (Guy) is 43. Rock musician Bardi Martin is 42. Rock musician James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn) is 41. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 39. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 38. Rapper-rocker Uncle Kracker is 37. Actress Sonya Walger is 37. Actress Staci Keanan is 36. Actress Amber Borycki is 28.

Thought for today: "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." -- Carl Jung (1875-1961)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.