The Vietnam Memorial opened in Washington DC, Kate Smith sang God Bless America for the first time, the Iwo Jima Memorial was dedicated, the US Marine Corps was founded, the first coast-to-coast direct telephone service was established, the Wilmington Uprising occurred, the end of World War I was announced, the windshield wiper was patented, Major Henry Wirz was executed, Sesame Street aired for the first time, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank, the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history took place, and the American Legion held its first national convention.
The Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC has opened to visitors for the first time. (1982) US President Reagan joined the opening day ceremony and listened as the names of those who died in the Vietnam War were read aloud. The memorial was dedicated three days later on November 13.
Kate Smith sang God Bless America for the first time. (1938) The song, which became Smith’s signature song, was written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised in 1938. It is often sung at US sporting events.
The Iwo Jima Memorial has been dedicated. (1954) The memorial, also known as the US Marine Corps (USMC) War Memorial, was dedicated by United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial honors US Marines who died in the line of duty.
The United States Marine Corps is founded. (1775) The Marine Corps was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Tun Tavern by Captain Samuel Nicholas. He formed the Marines as part of the naval infantry to fight in the American Revolutionary War.
The first coast-to-coast direct telephone service was born in the United States. (1951) The first call was made by M. Leslie Denning, then mayor of Englewood, New Jersey. He called the mayor of Alameda, California.
A US municipal government has been overthrown for the first — and only — time in the nation’s history. (1898) In what became known as the Wilmington Uprising of 1898, a white supremacist mob led by Alfred Moore Waddell overthrew the city government of Wilmington, North Carolina. White supremacists were unhappy with the city’s strong biracial political parties and the growing rights being afforded to blacks. Waddell became the city’s new mayor by 4 p.m. that same day. The event set the civil rights movement in North Carolina back decades.
The end of World War I was announced in a secret cable sent to a Western Union Cable Office in Nova Scotia. (1918) Western Union forwarded the message to Washington DC and Ottawa, Ontario. The message stated that the fighting would cease on 11 November. The armistice that ended the war between Germany and the Allies was in fact signed on 11 November.
The windshield wiper has been patented. (1903) Patent issued to Mary Anderson, resident of Birmingham, Alabama. She tried to sell her invention to a manufacturing company in Canada, but the offer was rejected as having no practical value. Others also belittled his creation, insisting it would distract drivers and cause accidents. Eventually, her patent expired before she could profit from her invention.
The only person executed for war crimes during the American Civil War was hanged. (1865) The man, Major Henry Wirz, was the superintendent of Camp Sumter, a prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia. He was executed for murder and conspiracy.
The American children’s show Sesame Street aired for the first time. (1969) The show was broadcast on the National Educational Television Network, which later became the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in worst disaster in Lake Superior history. (1975) All 29 crew were killed when ship sank in severe storm. The event became the subject of a famous song by Gordon Lightfoot, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history took place. (1979) The evacuation occurred after a 106-car freight train derailed, spilling poisonous chemicals and explosives, causing a huge explosion. The evacuation was also one of the largest in North American history.
The American Legion held its first national convention. (1919) United States Military Veterans Organization met in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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