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March 17, 2005 on this day:      

Today the world celebrates St. Patrick, the patron saint of
Ireland, who died on this day in 461.  He is credited with
converting the Celts to Christianity.  Irish tradition teaches
that he also drove the snakes out of that island nation.  On this
day in 1776 the British redcoats were driven out of the Irish-
American city of Boston by the revolutionary forces.  To
commemorate the event the first American flag contained a snake
with the phrase "Don't Tread on Me," an obvious reference to St.
Patrick driving out the serpents.

In 1958 the United States launched its second satellite, Vanguard 1,
into space.  Vanguard 1 weighed three pounds and contained a
small radio transmitter.  The United States had put its first
Satellite, Explorer 1, into space two months earlier.  Although
Vanguard 1 was not significantly more advanced than Explorer 1,
the technology used to put it into space was better.  This included
an advanced three-stage rocket and better launch facilities. 

- Vanguard 1 is still in orbit.  It circles the Earth every 107.9
minutes.
In 1941 the National Gallery of Art opened in Washington, D.C.

In 1898 John Holland demonstrated the first modern-style, practical
submarine for the U.S. Navy. 

In 1973 the North Vietnamese government released the first American
prisoners of war.


 

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