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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

USMC LEAVES BEIRUIT

LAST MARINES LEFT BEIRUIT 30 YEARS AGO TODAY

Beiruit, Lebanon (JFK+50) Thirty years ago today, February 26, 1984, just four months after President Ronald Reagan announced that the United States would continue its peace-keeping efforts, the last of the United States Marines stationed here in Beiruit left for home.

In 1982, a force of 800 marines were sent to Beiruit as part of a multi-national force to oversee Palestinian withdrawal.

On April 18, 1983, a suicide bomber drove a truck laden with explosives into the American Embassy killing 63 people including 17  Americans.

Then on October 23 another suicide bomber drove a truck into the marine base in Beiruit killing 241 American military personnel.




Aftermath of Explosion
Beiruit, Lebanon
February 26, 1984


GRAND TETON  BECOMES A NATIONAL PARK

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Calvin Coolidge signed a law 85 years ago today, February 26, 1929, at the White House establishing the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.




President Calvin Coolidge

GRAND CANYON BECOMES A NATIONAL PARK

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The United States Department of the Interior announced 85 years ago today, February 26, 1919, that Grand Canyon would be designated a national park.

More than 800,000 acres had been designated for the park by President Woodrow Wilson.




Grand Canyon National Park
Photograph by Phil Konstantin
October 10, 2007