Today in History.....September 6

On this day in …

1781, British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, adds to his notoriety by ordering his British command to burn New London, Connecticut. The Continental Army had been using the town to store a large stash of military supplies. The act sealed his reputation as a public enemy and his name became a synonym in common American parlance for "traitor." The bravery and military prowess Arnold had previously demonstrated, have been completely overshadowed by his later actions against the country he had once so valiantly served

1901, President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. McKinley died eight days later; he was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt

1909, American explorer Robert Peary sent word that he had reached the North Pole five months earlier

1916, the first self-serve grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was opened in Memphis, Tenn., by Clarence Saunders. (The store was set up to allow customers to hand-pick their groceries, rather than request them from a clerk standing behind a counter.)

1941, Jews over the age of 6 in German-occupied areas were ordered to wear yellow Stars of David

1970, "Palestinian" terrorists, practitioners of that "religion of peace", seized control of three jetliners which were later blown up on the ground in Jordan after the passengers and crews were evacuated

1976, a Soviet Air Force pilot lands his MIG fighter jet in Japan and asks for asylum in the United States. The incident was a serious embarrassment for the Soviets, and also provided a bit of a surprise for U.S. officials

1997, Britain bade farewell to Princess Diana with a funeral service at Westminster Abbey

2001, Mexican President Vicente Fox addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, urging greater trust between the neighboring countries as the basis for "a new partnership in North America

2005, the California Legislature became the first legislative body in the nation to approve same-sex marriages, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger later vetoed the bill