Today in history

On July 9, 1943, during World War II, the Allies launched Operation Husky, their invasion of Sicily, with nighttime landings of American and British troops; a full- scale incursion by sea began in the small hours of July 10. ( More than a month later, the Allies secured the island from the Axis.)

In 1540, England’s King Henry VIII had his 6- monthold marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.

In 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term. ( He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.)

In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous “cross of gold” speech at the Democratic national convention in Chicago.

In 1918, The Distinguished Service Cross was established by an Act of Congress.

In 1953, the MGM movie musical “The Band Wagon,” starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, had its world premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

In 1962, pop artist Andy Warhol’s exhibit of 32 paintings of Campbell’s soup cans opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles.

In 1974, former U. S. Chief Justice Earl Warren died in Washington, D. C., at age 83.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton tapped Tennessee Sen. Al Gore to be his running mate.

Ten years ago: The Bush administration defended the war against Iraq, saying that information on Saddam Hussein’s alleged illicit weapons programs was solid even though one of President George W. Bush’s claims — that Iraq had sought uranium from Africa — was based on faulty evidence.

Five years ago: Citing new DNA tests, prosecutors cleared JonBenet Ramsey’s parents and brother in the 1996 killing of the 6- year- old beauty queen in Boulder, Colo. Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked into the Senate to cast a dramatic vote in favor of long- stalled Medicare legislation.

One year ago: Facing sagging jobs numbers, President Barack Obama sought to recast the November election as a fight over tax fairness, urging tax cut extensions for all families earning less than $ 250,000 but denying them to households making more than that. The remains of 6 U. S. airmen lost over Laos in 1965 were laid to rest in a single casket at Arlington National Cemetery. Detroit’s Prince Fielder became only the second player, after Ken Griffey Jr., to win multiple titles in the AllStar Home Run Derby, thrilling the crowd at Kauffman Stadium with eight splash shots into the right- field fountain and beating Toronto’s Jose Bautista 12- 7 in the final.

“Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.” — Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator and reformer ( 18751955).