June 14.
1777. Congress establishes the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States. Eddie Izzard fans will recognize the importance of this.
1789. Whiskey distilled from maize, i.e. Bourbon Whiskey, is first produced by Baptist minister Elijah Craig, in Kentucky. Bourbon County, Kentucky to be precise. Hence the name. The Craig legend, however, is more than likely just that, only a legend.
1900. Hawaii becomes a US territory.
1938. Action comics releases its first issue, introducing Superman.
1940. Paris is occupied by the Germans. Ilsa goes to Viktor, who is desperately ill in a railroad car. Rick leaves the city by train without her, heartbroken.
1940. 728 Polish political prisoners are shipped to a newly opened concentration camp. The first residents of Auschwitz.
1954. President Eisenhower signs a bill into law adding the words "Under God" to the US Pledge of Allegiance which had been around for about 60 years.
1966. The Vatican abolishes the Index Librorum Prohibitorum -- the list of prohibted books, which had been in effect since 1557. Since many of the books are now considered the foundation stones of science and philosophy, presumably they determined that it wasn't making them too bright. Authors with works on the list include Kepler, Sartre, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Kant, Hume, Descartes, Francis Bacon, Locke, John Milton, and Galileo.
1982. The Falkland Islands War ends. It is a resounding victory for the rights of sheep everywhere.