Today is Wednesday, May 7, 2025, marking the 127th day of the year with 238 days remaining. Looking back in history, on this day in 1915, tragedy struck as a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland, resulting in the loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 Americans.
Another significant event on May 7 took place in 1945, when Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, bringing an end to its involvement in World War II. Additionally, in 1954, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam concluded with Vietnamese insurgents prevailing over French forces, marking the final major battle of the First Indochina War.
Moving forward to 1975, President Gerald R. Ford officially declared the conclusion of the “Vietnam era.” Meanwhile, the city formerly known as Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, witnessed the Viet Cong celebrating their successful takeover. In the realm of sports, the year 1977 saw Seattle Slew emerge victorious in the Kentucky Derby, the first step towards his eventual Triple Crown triumph.
Fast forward to 1984, as Monsanto and several other chemical companies agreed to a $180 million settlement for Vietnam veterans who had been exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Lastly, in 2020, justice was sought as Georgia authorities apprehended a white father and son for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was fatally shot after being pursued by the men in their truck.
Celebrating birthdays on this day are a mix of talents from various fields. Singer Thelma Houston turns 82, while rock musician Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead celebrates his 79th birthday. Actor and former boxer Randall “Tex” Cobb reaches 75, actor Breckin Meyer turns 51, and reggaeton musician J Balvin celebrates his 40th birthday. Actor-comedian Aidy Bryant and actor-writer Maya Erskine both turn 38, while actor Alexander Ludwig marks his 33rd birthday. YouTube personality MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, celebrates his 27th birthday.
This day in history serves as a reminder of both triumphs and tragedies that have shaped our world, reflecting on the past while looking towards the future.
