On this date
In 1775, the Continental Army, forerunner of the United States Army, was created.
In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the design of the original American flag. (The date officially has been celebrated as Flag Day since 1949.)
In 1940, during World War II, German troops entered Paris, and began transporting prisoners to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure adding the phrase “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.
In 1968, Benjamin Spock and three other peace activists were convicted of conspiring to encourage men to evade the draft during the Vietnam War. (The verdicts were overturned by an appeals court.)
In 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered a ban on domestic use of the pesticide DDT, to take effect at year’s end.
In 1982, Argentine forces surrendered to British troops on the disputed Falkland Islands.
Ten years ago: Iran rejected a sixnation offer of incentives to stop enriching uranium.
Five years ago: The Associated Press reported that Minnesota resident Michael Karkoc, 94, had been a top commander of a Nazi SS-led unit accused of burning villages filled with women and children, then lied to immigration officials to get into the United States after World War II. (Polish authorities are seeking to extradite Karkoc; Germany halted its investigation after deciding he was unfit to stand trial. Karkoc’s family denies he was involved in any war crimes.)
One year ago: A gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., wounding House Whip Steve Scalise and others; the shooter died in a battle with police.