Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 24, Monday February 1919, Árpád Bogsch, Hungarian international civil servant, born (d. 2004)
On 24, Thursday February 1944, WWII: 7,998 drown when USS Rasher torpedoes Ryūsei Maru and Tango Maru.
On 24, Thursday February 1944, Ivica Račan, Croatian politician, born (d. 2007)
On 24, Tuesday February 1959, Mike Whitney, cricketer, born
On 24, Monday February 1969, The Mariner 6 Mars probe is launched from the United States.
On 24, Monday February 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution applies to public schools.
On 24, Monday February 1969, Christine Ng, Hong Kong actress, born
On 24, Friday February 1989, The funeral of Hirohito is attended by representatives of 160 nations.
On 24, Friday February 1989, The Satanic Verses controversy: Iran places a $3,000,000 bounty on the head of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
On 24, Friday February 1989, Singing Revolution: After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised at the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn.
On 24, Friday February 1989, United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747, suffers uncontrolled decompression after leaving Honolulu International Airport, nine passengers are sucked out of the cabin to their deaths.
On 24, Friday February 1989, Kosta Koufos, Greek-born American basketball player, born
On 24, Friday February 1989, Trace Cyrus, American musician, born
On 24, Friday February 1989, Sparky Adams, American baseball player, died (b. 1894)
On 24, Thursday February 1994, In Gloucester, local police begin excavations at 25 Cromwell Street, the home of Fred West, a suspect in multiple murders. On February 28, he and his wife are arrested.
On 24, Thursday February 1994, Earl Sweatshirt, American rapper, born
On 24, Thursday February 1994, Jean Sablon, French singer, died (b. 1906)
On 24, Thursday February 1994, Dinah Shore, American actress and singer, died (b. 1916)
On 24, Thursday February 1994, Henry Milton Taylor, 3rd Governor-General of the Bahamas, died (b. 1903)
On 24, Wednesday February 1999, LaGrand case: The State of Arizona executes Karl LaGrand, a German national involved in an armed robbery in 1982 that led to a death. Karl’s brother Walter is executed a week later, in spite of Germany’s legal action in the International Court of Justice to attempt to save him.
On 24, Wednesday February 1999, Andre Dubus, American short-story writer, died (b. 1936)
On 24, Wednesday February 1999, Virginia Foster Durr, American civil rights activist, died (b. 1903)
On 24, Wednesday February 1999, Frank Leslie Walcott, Barbadian labour leader, died (b. 1916)
On 24, Monday February 2014, Harold Ramis, American film director, writer, and actor, died (b. 1944)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch