TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT June 14, 1943

The U.S. Supreme Court, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, ruled 6-3that public school students could not be forced to salute the flag of the United States.

ALSO ON THIS DATE 1775

The Continental Army, forerunner of the United States Army, was created.

1777

The Second Continental Congress approved the design of the original American flag.

1801

Former American Revolutionary War general and notorious turncoat Benedict Arnold, 60, died in London.

1940

German troops entered Paris during World War II; the same day, the Nazis began transporting prisoners to the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

1954

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure adding the phrase “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.

1972

The Environmental Protection Agency ordered a ban on domestic use of the pesticide DDT, to take effect at year’s end.

1982

Argentine forces surrendered to British troops on the disputed Falkland Islands.

1985

The 17-day hijack ordeal of TWA Flight 847began as a pair of Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists seized the jetliner shortly after takeoff from Athens, Greece.

2008

Iran rejected a six-nation offer of incentives to stop enriching uranium.

2017

A rifle-wielding gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, wounding House Whip Steve Scalise and several others; the assailant died in a battle with police.