Today is Sunday, June 21, the 172nd day of 2026. There are 193 days left in the year. Summer begins today.
Historical Significance
On June 21, 1788, the United States Constitution went into effect as New Hampshire became the required ninth state to ratify it, marking a pivotal moment in American history and the foundation of our individual liberty.
Also on this date, several other significant events occurred, including Cyrus Hall McCormick receiving a patent for his mechanical reaper in 1834, the first Ferris wheel opening to the public in 1893, and the presentation of a study on the link between smoking and lung cancer in 1954.
In 1964, civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were killed in Neshoba County, Mississippi. Their bodies were found buried in an earthen dam six weeks later.
In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag as a form of political protest was protected by the First Amendment, upholding the principles of free speech and individual rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
