SUPREME COURT SAYS NO TO SCHOOL PRAYER
The United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling today in the case of Engel v. Vitale.
The high court ruled by a vote of 6 to 1 that a prayer recommended for classroom reading by the New York Board of Regents is a violation of the 1st Amendment.
The prayer in question is:
"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee & we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers & our country. Amen."
The American Jewish Commission, the Synagogue Council of America & the Ethical Union opposed the prayer.
The court says because the prayer was created by government officials to promote a religious belief it violates 1st Amendment rights.
Sculpture of Chief Justice Earl Warren
United States Supreme Court Building
Photo by John White (2003)
June 25, 1963
JFK QUOTES LINCOLN IN FRANKFURT
President John F. Kennedy spoke to West Germans in Frankfurt today. He said:
"Abraham Lincoln said 'I know there is a God. I see a storm coming. If he has a place for me, then I am ready'. No one can tell....whether there is a storm coming for all of us, but what we can be sure of is that no matter what happens, we believe in God & we are ready."
Lincoln Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
JFK also said Americans are committed to the defense of Europe to the extent we "will risk (our) cities to defend yours."
June 25, 1952
CONGRESSMAN KENNEDY SPEAKS ON HOUSE FLOOR
Congressman John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts gave a speech today on the floor of the House of Representatives warning that because of large imports of fish fillets, New England's fishing industry has been crippled.
The Congressman asked the House of Representatives to study this problem.
US Capitol Building
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
June 25, 1950
NORTH KOREAN ARMY INVADES SOUTH KOREA
The North Korean People's Army, supported by the Soviet Union, crossed the 38th parallel today & invaded South Korea.
The United Nations Security Council, meeting in New York City, unanimously condemned the invasion.
Korea was divided at the Potsdam Conference at the end of World War II.
In December 1945, a US-USSR Joint Commission agreed in Moscow to allow a trusteeship for North Korea by the Soviet Union & a trusteeship for South Korea by the USA.
The trusteeships were to be in place for a 5 year period.*
*On June 27, 1950, President Truman ordered US air & naval forces to support South Korea.
The Korean Conflict ended with an armistice signed on July 27, 1953. North & South Korea remain divided to this day.
Korean War Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
June 25, 1942
EISENHOWER NAMED COMMANDER IN EUROPE
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was named Commander of all United States forces in the European war theater today.
Eisenhower, a graduate of West Point, served as an assistant to General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines.
As European commander, General Eisenhower will be directly involved in the planning & execution of US military strategy to liberate the continent from Axis control.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
U.S. Signal Corps Photo
June 25, 1876
CUSTER'S 7TH CAVALRY DEFEATED AT LITTLE BIG HORN
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, a young hero for the Union Army in the Civil War, met defeat today on the banks of the Little Big Horn River in Montana.
Custer & 215 soldiers of the 7th U.S. Cavalry were part of an army sent out to force all "hostile" Plains Indians back onto their reservations.
Lt. Col. Custer apparently misjudged the size of the Indian village he found at the Little Big Horn & ordered a division of his forces.
Custer's division of 215 men attacked the center of a Sioux & Cheyenne village estimated to hold more than 10,000 Indians including 3000 armed warriors under Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse.
There were reportedly no survivors from Custer's division.
US Seventh Cavalry Insignia
