1992 USS Missouri Is Decommissioned for the Second and Final Time

On March 31, 1992, the battleship USS Missouri, known for its role in World War II and as the site where Japan’s surrender was signed in 1945, was officially retired from service, ending a distinguished military career spanning five decades.

🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on March 31:

1968 — President Lyndon B. Johnson concluded a televised speech on the Vietnam War by unexpectedly announcing he would not seek reelection.

1918 — Daylight Saving Time was introduced in the United States, settings clocks one hour ahead to conserve energy, a concept that began in Britain during World War I.

1889 — The Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, was inaugurated as the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time.

1870 — Thomas Peterson-Mundy of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, cast the first vote by an African American under the Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution.

1854 — US Commodore Matthew Perry signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, opening Japan to foreign trade and ending over two centuries of isolation.

1521 — The first Roman Catholic mass in the Philippines was celebrated on the island of Limasawa, marking a significant moment in the country’s religious history.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On March 31, we’re singing to:

René Descartes (1596) — French mathematician and philosopher, regarded as the father of modern philosophy and known for Meditations on First Philosophy and the phrase cogito, ergo sum.

Andrew Marvell (1621) — English poet and satirist remembered for works such as "To His Coy Mistress" and his contributions to metaphysical poetry.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685) — German composer and musician celebrated as one of the greatest composers of all time, known for The Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Nikolay Gogol (1809) — Ukrainian-born writer whose works like Dead Souls and The Overcoat shaped Russian literature and satire.

Christopher Walken (1943) — American actor known for his unique voice and roles in films such as The Deer Hunter and Catch Me If You Can. 

 🪦Who Died Today?

On March 31, we’re saying goodbye to:

Charlotte Brontë (1855) — British author of Jane Eyre, a groundbreaking novel exploring themes of morality, love, and feminism.

Selena Quintanilla (1995) — Iconic Mexican-American singer known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," whose life and career were tragically cut short.

How Am I Doing?