Today in history

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 7, the 219th day of 2019 and the 48th day of summer.

Today’s history: In 1789, the U.S. Department of War was established.

▪ In 1942, the U.S. 1st Marines Division landed on the island of Guadalcanal, marking the first major American offensive of World War II.

▪ In 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in response to reported Vietnamese attacks.

▪ In 1998, U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya were bombed.

Today’s fact: In 1947, Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and his crew of five crashed into a reef at Raroia, near Tahiti, aboard their balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki. The 4,300mile, 101-day voyage from Peru was undertaken to prove that prehistoric South Americans could have colonized the Polynesian Islands.

Today’s sports: In 2007, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 756th career home run, surpassing the record set by Hank Aaron.

Today’s quote: “The world and its peoples being as they are, there is no easy or quick or infallible approach to a secure peace. It is only by patient, persistent, undismayed effort, by trial and error, that peace can be won.” — Ralph Bunche

Today’s number: 1,368 — height (in feet) of the wire suspended between the World Trade Center towers and walked by French high-wire artist Philippe Petit on this day in 1974. Petit walked back and forth, sat and even danced on the 200-foot-long wire for 45 minutes before surrendering to police.

Today’s moon: First quarter moon (Aug. 7).