March 25: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

March 25, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The mind of man probably has never before conceived of such a welcome as that which New York gave today to its own — to the men of the 27th Division, U.S.A. A welcome that defied imagination was theirs. A spectacle was theirs beside which paled into insignificance all the spectacular events New York has ever staged. A greeting was theirs that, in its spontaneity, its soul-stirring might, its touch of heart, defies all description. It was, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the greatest, most inspiring, most marvelous demonstration ever known to any of those who participated in it. Superlative upon superlative must be used by any who tell of it, for only the superlative will do … No man may ever say after today that New York is cold. No man may ever say that New York failed in one tiny measure of appreciation for these — her sons — the sons of the city and of the whole state — who fought and who conquered over there, and who today were welcomed back.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, MARCH 24 (AP) — The trophy room at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been robbed of medals presented to his memory. Arlington Cemetery officials believe the glass case containing the medals was looted some time yesterday. A sentry, posted from sunrise to sunset, constantly patrols the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but is out of sight of the amphitheater corridor where the medals are displayed in cases. The medals included the Congressional Medal of Honor and the highest awards of every allied nation in the World War. War Department officials and police are pushing an investigation. The War Department later announced the following medals, some of which were gold, were missing: National Auxiliary United Spanish-American War Veterans, gold medal Fidac, Society of Daughters of Cincinnati, Disabled American Veterans of the World War, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Dames of Loyal Legion, National Society of New England Women, Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and gold medal of Caroli Romanier Down Al Virtute Militaria.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “The UNO Security Council meets in the Bronx today — in a world considerably calmed down from the war jitters of only a few days ago. The Iran-Russian dispute, which seemed then freighted with the seeds of a new world war, was still an issue as the Council members assembled in their new headquarters at Hunter College, but not an explosive one. Russia’s 11th hour announcement that all Soviet troops were to be withdrawn from Iran, following hard on Josef Stalin’s declaration of confidence in the ability of UNO to settle all issues between nations, had suddenly given the color of peace rather than warlike controversy to this first session of the Security Council in the United States. Iran will still be discussed, and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes made it clear that he will press for a formal promise of troop withdrawal before the UNO, together with an explanation why the troops were not withdrawn by March 2, the original agreed-to date.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “BERLIN (UPI) — Morale is high again in West Berlin, 19 months after the Communists constructed their wall in this divided city. Proof that confidence has returned was noted one afternoon last week when sirens mounted on public buildings to alert West Berliners in case of trouble began to shriek. A short circuit had set off the sirens and they screamed for 18 minutes with no apparent effect on the West Berliners. Traffic kept moving. In the cafes and restaurants, everyone continued eating and drinking and in the stores shopping continued. Some people thought the sirens were being tested. Others correctly figured it was technical trouble. No one suspected or feared a Communist move against the city. And that tells a lot about West Berlin morale 19 months after the building of the Communist wall and 4 1/2 years since the opening of the Russian campaign to get Western troops out of the city.”

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Sarah Jessica Parker
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include film critic Gene Shalit, who was born in 1926; Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, who was born in 1928; journalist and activist Gloria Steinem, who was born in 1934; Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, who was born in 1937; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Elton John, who was born in 1947; former N.Y. Mets and Yankees outfielder Lee Mazzilli, who was born in Brooklyn in 1955; “Desperate Housewives” star Marcia Cross, who was born in 1962; basketball coach Avery Johnson, who was born in 1965; “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker, who was born in 1965; “Saved by the Bell” star Lark Voorhies, who was born in 1974; race car driver Danica Patrick, who was born in 1982; and comedian and former Cobble Hill resident Jenny Slate, who was born in 1982.

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ACROSS THE SEA: Commodore John Barry was born in Ireland on this day in 1745. Known as the “Father of the American Navy,” Barry commanded vessels during the American Revolution, was the first American commissioned naval officer, and helped to establish the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Commodore Barry Park, the oldest park in Brooklyn, was renamed for him in 1951. He died in 1803.

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BURNED INTO MEMORY: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire burned on this day in 1911. The deadliest industrial disaster in New York City’s history killed 146 garment workers — mostly women and girls — in the Asch Building near Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. The two youngest victims were 14 years old. Public outrage over the tragedy led to greater oversight of working conditions.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”

— author Flannery O’Connor, who was born on this day in 1925