19 th June

1885 The Statue of Liberty arrived in the United States.

1896 Bessie Wallis Warfield was born. (See June 3rd and June 23rd entries.)

1903 Lou Gehrig was born.

1917 The royal British family adopted the name Windsor.

1934 Federal Communications Commission was created.

1984 Michael Jordan was signed to the Chicago Bulls. (See June 12th and June 20th entries.)

There are few symbols more closely related to the spirit of America than the Statue of Liberty. Today is the day when “Lady Liberty” arrived. In 1885, she landed at Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor. This noble symbol was a gift from France. She was created in Paris by Frederic Bartholdi around a metal skeleton designed by Alexandre Eiffel. She was transported by ship in parts; and reassembled on the spot where she still proudly stands.

Back in 1934, on this date, Congress created the Federal Communications Commission. Its job is to regulate interstate and international communications by radio, telephone, telegraph, and cable. And its influence now expands to television, fiber optics, remote networks, modems, cellular and satellite phones.

Two events that were part of major news headlines in the 1930s began on this day. In 1917, Great Britain’s royal family adopted the name Windsor to replace Saxe-Coburg - Gotha. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, the nation’s union with a royal house of Germany was sealed. But during the First World War, political and public sentiments changed; so King George V made that unprecedented name change to disassociate the royal family from its German origins. All succeeding monarchs from that day forward have had the last name of Windsor. George’s successor, King Edward also made news when he abdicated his title, became the Duke of Windsor, and married a woman who was born on this day in 1896. Bessie Wallis Warfield became the famous divorcee Mrs. Wallis Simpson, and as you probably know she eventually bore the title Duchess of Windsor.

When Michael Jordan was signed to the lowly Chicago Bulls basketball club on this date in 1984, the team’s general manager was quoted as saying, “Jordan isn’t going to turn this franchise around.” But the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill varsity player, Olympic gold medalist, and the NBA’s number one draft pick, took the team from last place to win three consecutive championships between 1990 and 1992, and more after that.

A great American who became the inspiration for millions was born on this day in 1903. Baseball player Lou Gehrig joined professional sports and quickly rose to fame. Nicknamed the “Pride of the Yankees,” Gehrig played with another all-time hero, Babe Ruth, but before he could beat the Babe’s career high, he was stricken with the debilitating nervous disorder ALS and retired from the game.