“V” Shaped Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated - This Day in History – Nov 13th

Back in 1982, 57,939 names of Americans who died in the Vietnam War were placed on a long-awaited dedicated memorial in Washington, D.C.  The arrangement of the “V” shaped black-granite wall was arranged in the common ran of order of death, not rank.  Yale University Architectural Student Maya Lin, who won a nationwide competition of the memorial, designed this unique structure.

According to history.com, “Veterans and families of the dead walked the black reflective wall, seeking the names of their loved ones killed in the conflict. Once the name was located, visitors often made an etching or left a private offering, from notes and flowers to dog tags and cans of beer.  The Vietnam Veterans Memorial soon became one of the most visited memorials in the nation's capital. A Smithsonian Institution director called it "a community of feelings, almost a sacred precinct," and a veteran declared that "it's the parade we never got." "The Wall" drew together both those who fought and those who marched against the war and served to promote national healing a decade after the divisive conflict's end.”

Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award Winner, Whoopi Goldberg is born

Back in 1955, future actress, producer, talk show host and comedian Caryn Johnson aka “Whoopi Goldberg,” was born on this day back in New York City. 

Ms. Goldberg has starred in over 100 movies. Some of audience favorite includes:

• The Lion King
• The Color Purple
• Ghost (Won Academy Award)
• Jumpin Jack Flash
• Ghost of Mississippi

Ms. Goldberg has provided her voice to animated movies such as:

• The Lion King
• Toy Story 4
• Ranger Margaret from Rugrats

According to history.com, “In 1994, Goldberg became the first-ever solo female host of the Academy Awards, a job she repeated to largely positive reviews in 1996, 1999 and 2002. In September 2007, she signed on as a moderator of the daytime chatfest The View, taking over for the frequently controversial Rosie O’Donnell, who left the show. In addition to her TV and film work, Goldberg has continued to act and produce on Broadway.”

NBA’s Center, Darryl Dawkins breaks his first backboard

Back in 1979, Philadelphia 76er center, Darryl Dawkins shocked the basketball sports word with his unforgettable feat during a NBA game against Kansas City.  Mr. Dawkins who was 6’10”, 260 pounds smashed the fiberglass backboard.  According tohistory.com, “The result, according to people who were at the game, was a sound like a bomb going off in the middle of the court. Shards of glass were everywhere: They nicked Robinzine all over his legs and arms and gotten stuck in Dr. J’s Afro. "It wasn’t really a safe thing to do," Dawkins chuckled later, "but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do."

Famous Novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson is born

Back in 1850, Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, the future writer of classic novels that would become movies, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and Treasure Island,” was born on this day in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Mr. Stevenson pursued a career as a writer who published essays and travels even though he has studied law and civil engineering.  Mr. Stevenson would later marry Fanny Vandegrift, an American.  Over the years he would return to Scotland with his wife where he would publish a collections of essays, his famous novels “Treasure Island,” “Kidnapped,” "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and a nursery rhyme book called, “A Child's Garden of Verse.”

Mr. Stevenson and his wife, Fanny would retire in Samoa due to his bout with tuberculosis. He would die at the age of 44 in 1894.

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/karen-silkwood-dies-in-mysterious-one-car-crash?catId=17