By The Associated PressSun Sep 10, 8:01 PM ET

Today is Monday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2006. There are 111 days left in the year. This is Patriot Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

Five years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, in the single worst act of terrorism committed on U.S. soil, nearly 3,000 people died when two hijacked jetliners crashed into New York's World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to fall, a commandeered jetliner smashed into the Pentagon and a fourth hijacked plane crashed in western Pennsylvania.

On this date:

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1941, Charles A. Lindbergh sparked charges of anti-Semitism with a speech in which he said "the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration" were trying to draw the United States into World War II.

In 1962, the Beatles made their first record for EMI, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You," at EMI studios in London.

In 1971, former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died at age 77.

In 1972, the troubled Munich Summer Olympics ended.

In 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a violent military coup.

In 1974, an Eastern Airlines DC-9 crashed during a landing attempt in Charlotte, N.C., killing 71 of the people on board.

In 1985, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds cracked career hit number 4,192 off Eric Show of the San Diego Padres, eclipsing the record held by Ty Cobb.

In 1985, a U.S. satellite glided through the tail of the Giacobini-Zinner comet in the first on-the-spot sampling of a comet.

Ten years ago: Two top officials with the Health and Human Services Department resigned over President Clinton's signing of the Republican welfare overhaul bill (another official had resigned the month before). Hurricane Hortense continued churning its way through the Caribbean.

One year ago: Weeping relatives marked the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack with prayers, solemn remembrances and heartfelt messages at the site where the World Trade Center collapsed. Japanese voters handed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling coalition a landslide victory in elections for the lower house of parliament. Roger Federer blew away Andre Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1 to capture a second straight U.S. Open and sixth Grand Slam title. Sportscaster Chris Schenkel died in Fort Wayne, Ind., at age 82.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Betsy Drake is 83. Actor Earl Holliman is 78. Movie director Brian De Palma is 66. Rock musician Mickey Hart (The Dead) is 63. Singer-musician Leo Kottke is 61. Rock singer-musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 53. Actor Reed Birney is 52. Musician Jon Moss (Culture Club) is 49. Actor Scott Patterson is 48. Rock musician Mick Talbot (The Style Council) is 48. Actress Roxann Dawson is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 44. Actress Virginia Madsen is 43. Musician-composer Moby is 41. Financial reporter Maria Bartiromo is 39. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 39. Rock musician Bart Van Der Zeeluw is 38. Actress Laura Wright is 36. Rock musician Jeremy Popoff (Lit) is 35. Singer Brad Fischetti (LFO) is 31. Rapper Mr. Black is 29. Rock musician Jon Buckland (Coldplay) is 29. Rapper Ludacris is 29. Actor Ryan Slattery is 28. Actor Tyler Hoechlin is 19.

Thought for Today: "This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." — Elmer Davis, American news commentator (1890-1958).