YEARS AGO FOR JUNE 6

Today is Thursday, June 6, the 157th day of 2019. There are 208 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1654: Queen Christina of Sweden abdicates; she is succeeded by her cousin, Charles X Gustav.

1799: American politician and orator Patrick Henry dies in Virginia.

1816: A snowstorm strikes the northeastern U.S., heralding what would become known as the “Year Without a Summer.”

1918: U.S. Marines suffer heavy casualties as they fight in the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood in France.

1925: Walter Percy Chrysler founds the Chrysler Corp.

1933: The first drive-in movie theater opens in Camden County, N.J.

1939: The first Little League game is played as Lundy Lumber defeats Lycoming Dairy 23-8 in Williamsport, Pa.

1944: During World War II, Allied forces storm the beaches of Normandy, France, on “D-Day” as they begin the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.

1968: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy dies after he was shot a day earlier by Sirhan Sirhan.

1982: Israeli forces invade Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country.

2014: Men who stormed Normandy’s shore 70 years earlier join world leaders in paying tribute to the 150,000 Allied troops who lost their lives in the D-Day landings.

VINDICATOR FILES

1994: Debra Dalton, a veteran clerk at the Dairy Mart on Youngstown’s West Side who has been robbed 24 times, has some advice for other clerks facing a gunman: “Stay calm. Don’t Show them you’re scared. And do what they say.”

Visiting Judge Mary Cacioppo refuses to grant early release to former Columbiana County Treasurer Ardel Strabala, who sought to shorten his 18-month sentence for public corruption on grounds of medical hardship.

Poland Township trustees say they will continue to oppose the efforts of ESSROC Material Inc. to have Moore Road moved to allow for limestone mining.

1979: Warren Councilman Daniel Sferra defeats five opponents in the Democratic primary for mayor and will face Republican William Shank in November.

George Vukovich, clerk of Youngstown City Council, wins the Democratic nomination for mayor, defeating William Shranko, 10,903 to 6,598.

Mill Creek Park’s 0.4-mill renewal levy passes by more than 2-to-1.

1969: One Newton Falls man, Clyde Kovacs, 31, drowned in a lake near Nakina, Ontario, and two other Newton Falls men, Jack Harvey, 42, and Steve Tachovaka, 44, are missing and presumed drowned.

Dr. Willis Smith, superintendent of Mahoning County schools for 28 years, announces his retirement. Dr. Robert Shreve will succeed him.

William Sampson, 72, of Liberty Township, former chairman of the board of American Welding and Manufacturing, dies at his home after a series of strokes.

1944: First reports of the Allied invasion of Europe are received with skepticism by Youngstowners. Following the official announcement two hours later, the news was received calmly. All city churches are open for prayer.

Hikers led by E.W. Vickers, Mill Creek Park naturalist, and another group in boats led by Lindley Vickers, made tours of various park trails.

The Liberty Bell, which heralded the nation’s independence, rings as the liberation of Europe is launched. The great bell is struck six times and the tolling is broadcast over the NBC Radio network.