Thursday, May 12, 2011

TODAY IN HISTORY

MAY 12

1937:George VI and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, are crowned as king and queen of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey in London, following the abdication of his older brother, King Edward VIII. The new monarch will overcome a speech impediment, recently depicted in the Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech, to inspire the British people during World War II.

1949: The Soviet Union ends its blockade of West Berlin after British and American planes had flown to the city’s aid, supplying more than 2.3 million tons of food and other necessities to its inhabitants through the Berlin Airlift.

1997: Australian distance swimmer Susie Maroney, 22, becomes the first person to swim from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Fla., braving harsh winds to cross the 112-mile Florida Straits in just over 24 hours.


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