Today in History
Today is Monday, March 27, the 86th day of 2017. There are 279 days
left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On March 27, 1977, in
aviation's worst disaster, 583 people were killed when a KLM Boeing
747, attempting to take off in heavy fog, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on
an airport runway on the Canary Island of Tenerife (ten-uh-REEF'). On
this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon (hwahn pahns
duh LEE'-ohn) sighted present-day Florida. In 1836, the first Mormon
temple was dedicated in Kirtland, Ohio, by Joseph Smith Jr. In 1884,
the first telephone line between Boston and New York was inaugurated.
In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of Japan's
ambassador to the United States, Viscountess Chinda, planted the first
two of 3,000 cherry trees given to the U.S. as a gift by the mayor of
Tokyo. In 1933, Japan officially withdrew from the League of Nations.
In 1942, during World War II, Congress granted American servicemen free
first-class mailing privileges. In 1952, the MGM movie musical "Singin'
in the Rain," starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds,
had its world premiere at New York's Radio City Music Hall. In 1957,
"Around the World in 80 Days" won the Academy Award for best picture of
1956; Yul Brynner won best actor for "The King and I," Ingrid Bergman
was awarded best actress for "Anastasia" and George Stevens was
recognized as best director for "Giant. In 1964, Alaska was hit by a
magnitude 9.2 earthquake (the strongest on record in North America) and
tsunamis that together claimed about 130 lives. In 1980, 123 workers
died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander
Kielland, capsized during a storm. In 1996, an Israeli court convicted
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's (YIT'-sahk rah-BEENZ') confessed
assassin of murder, then sentenced former law student Yigal Amir
(YEE'-gahl ah-MEER') to life in prison. In 2002, President George W.
Bush signed landmark bipartisan legislation designed to limit the role
of big money in political campaigns. Ten years ago: Truck bombs hit
markets in Tal Afar (tahl AH'-fur), Iraq, killing at least 152 people
and wounding more than 150. NFL owners voted 30-2 (with Cincinnati and
Arizona dissenting) to make the video replay system a permanent
officiating tool. Five years ago: A JetBlue Airways captain ran through
the cabin of a New York-to-Las Vegas flight yelling about religion and
terrorists before he was tackled and restrained by passengers. (Clayton
Osbon was charged with interference with a flight crew; he was found
not guilty by reason of insanity.) Award-winning poet Adrienne Rich,
82, died in Santa Cruz, California. Art critic Hilton Kramer, 84, died
in Harpswell, Maine. One year ago: A bombing in the eastern Pakistani
city of Lahore killed 65 people in a park crowded with Christians,
including many children; a breakaway faction of the Taliban claimed
responsibility. The Syrian government recaptured the historic city of
Palmyra (pahl-MEER'-uh) from Islamic State fighters who had waged a
10-month reign of terror there. Global Catholic Network founder Mother
Angelica, 92, died in Hanceville, Alabama. Today's Birthdays: Dance
company director Arthur Mitchell is 83. Actor Julian Glover is 82.
Actor Jerry Lacy is 81. Hall of Fame racer Cale Yarborough is 78.
Actor-director Austin Pendleton is 77. Actor Michael York is 75. Rock
musician Tony Banks (Genesis) is 67. Rock musician Andrew Farriss
(INXS) is 58. Jazz musician Dave Koz (kahz) is 54. Movie director
Quentin Tarantino is 54. Rock musician Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) is
53. Rock musician Johnny April (Staind) is 52. Actress Talisa Soto is
50. Actor Ben Koldyke is 49. Actress Pauley Perrette is 48. Singer
Mariah Carey is 47. Rock musician Brendan Hill (Blues Traveler) is 47.
Actress Elizabeth Mitchell is 47. Actor Nathan Fillion is 46. Hip-hop
singer Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) is 42. Actress Megan Hilty is 36.
Actress Emily Ann Lloyd is 33. Actress Brenda Song is 29. Pop
singer/songwriter Kimbra is 27. Actress Taylor Atelian is 22. Classical
crossover singer Amira Willighagen (TV: "Holland's Got Talent") is 13.
Thought for Today: "Often the test of courage is not to die but to
live. Vittorio Alfieri, Italian dramatist (1749-1803).
