A year and a day before the Declaration of Independence was approved, George Washington takes control of the Continental Army and finds that direct attacks against the British are going to have to wait - they aren't trained. Freedom was not to be won easily, our quotes today address the costs of freedom.
We have a pair of ill-fated airliners today. Terrorists associated with the German Baader-Meinhof group hijacked an Air France flight out of Israel, demanding the release of prisoners in several countries. Many of them were released, but the terrorists kept all of the Jewish passengers captive in the older terminal at Entebbe in Uganda. Israeli commandos released them in the raid that is always the first example of surgical raids, most don't turn out this well. A decade later, a US Navy ship fails to identify an Airbus A300 and shoots it down, all aboard perish.
One of the most energetically patriotic American performers was born today, the Yankee Doodle Dandy George M. Cohan. His father claimed he was born on the Fourth of July, George quipped that he was Uncle Sam's nephew. But the hospital recorded the birth on the third, Cohan had to settle for the Congressional Medal of Honor instead of the birthday he wanted.
321 - By proclamation of the Emperor Constantine, the day of rest in the Roman Empire is set as "dies Solis" or Sun Day.
1608 - Samuel de Champlain selects a point of land covered with nut trees as the most suitable settlement along the Saint Lawrence River. The natives called it Quebec, Champlain keeps the name for the city he founded.
1775 - George Washington took command of his ill-trained troops at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He quickly realized that the best strategy was to harass the British, reporting to Congress, "we should on all Occasions avoid a general Action, or put anything to the Risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn."
1976 - After an Air France flight from Israel had been hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda, Israel's Sayeret Matkal and Sayeret Golani anti-terrorist units flew four C-130 Hercules transports to the Entebbe airport, killed the seven terrorists and at least one sentry, rescued all but one of the hostages in a 99-minute raid, losing one of their commandos, the leader Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Netanyahu.
1988 - USS Vincennes, a US Navy Aegis cruiser, fired two radar-guided missiles at Iran Air flight 655, at a range of six miles. Iran reported that there were 290 passengers and crew aboard, there were no survivors. The Navy reported that the Vincennes believed the A300 Airbus airliner was an Iranian F14 fighter.
Caricom Day, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines - Marked by official gatherings and political messages from within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Celebrates the dynamic efforts of countries sharing a common history, culture, origins and language. Antigua and Barbuda are considering replacing this with their Independence Day (26 May) as a legal holiday. Guyana celebrated Caricom Day on the first.
1878 - George Michael Cohan, American showman - Born Providence, Rhode Island, father learned of birth on stage, later claimed George born on the fourth. Appeared in vaudeville as one of "The Four Cohans (with father, mother, and sister). Started writing the material at age 11, then songs, then managed the group, finally made it the Five Cohans by marrying Ethel Levey in 1899. First Broadway success 1904, 1906 hit "George Washington, Jr" first included routine of parading around the stage singing praise to American flag he waved. Produced over 50 Broadway shows with Sam H. Harris 1904 to 1919, Actors Equity organizing drive made him lose interest in producing. Biggest hit song was "Over There" in 1917, patriotic tribute written as US entered WW I, received Congressional Medal of Honor in 1940 for morale contribution of the song. Successful actor in 1930s, especially in Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness" 1934 and as the President in "I'd Rather be Right" 1937. Died at New York City on 5 Novemer 1942, the year his life story was the subject of the motion picture "Yankee Doodle Dandy."
Let therefore every man, that, appealing to his own heart, feels the
least spark of virtue or freedom there, think that it is an honor which
he owes himself, and a duty which he owes his country, to bear arms.
- Thomas Pownall
If a nation or an individual values anything more than freedom, it will
lose its freedom; and the irony is that if it is comfort or money it values
more, it will lose that too.
- W. Somerset Maugham
In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. When
the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to
give to them, when the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility,
then Athens ceased to be free.
- Edward Gibbon
Increase of freedom in the State may sometimes promote mediocrity, and
give vitality to prejudice; it may even retard useful legislation, diminish
the capacity for war, and restrict the boundaries of Empire. ... A generous
spirit prefers that his country should be poor and weak, and of no account,
but free; rather than powerful, prosperous, and enslaved.
- Lord John Emerich Edward
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