What’s Happening Today?

Day of National National Recognition for the Harkis  (France). This observance was introduced in 2001 and it commemorates Harki, Muslim Algerian loyalists who served in the French Army during the Algerian War (1954-1962). French administration used Muslim Algerians on irregular basis in their home villages and towns. The Harkis were lightly armed and had almost no value as the troops. At the same time, the Harkis were valuable auxiliaries to French regular units due to their knowledge of local terrain.

In 2012 President Nicolas Sarkozy recognized France's responsibility for abandoning Harki veterans at the time of the war.

Revolution Day (Mozambique). This holiday marks the start of the armed struggle against Portuguese rule on this day in 1964. In 1962 several anti-colonial groups combined to form the Front for the Mozambique Liberation (FRELIMO). On September 25 1964, FRELIMO began an armed guerrilla campaign when they launched the first attack against Portuguese targets. 

What Happened Today?

1. In 1962, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria was officially created. Ferhat Abbas was appointed as the President of the Algerian National Assembly, and Ben Bella was seated as the country's new Prime Minister.

2. In 1974, Dr Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery (better known as Tommy John surgery) on baseball player Tommy John. This is a procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body or with one from a dead donor. 

3. In 1977, runners run the first Chicago Marathon, one of the world's six major marathons. The others include the marathons in Berlin, Boston, London, New York, and Tokyo. The Chicago Marathon was initially called the Mayor Daley Marathon and the first race was won by Rhud Metzner.

Birthdays

1. 1944 – Michael Douglas, multi-award-winning American actor and producer. 

2. 1968 – Will Smith (in the picture), multi-award-winning American rapper, actor and producer famous for starring in the popular Hollywood film, The Pursuit of Happiness.

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday & officeholidays.com

Picture credit: Voice of America