Today is Thursday, August 17, the 229th day of 2017. There are 136 days left in the year.

1960 — Gabon gains independence from France (National Day)

1961 — Building of the Berlin Wall begins

1961 — Kennedy administration establishes Alliance for Progress

1962 — Beatles replaces Pete Best with Ringo Starr

1962 — E German border guards shot & kill Peter Fechter, 18, attempting to cross Berlin Wall into western sector

1963 — Jim Hickman becomes the first NY Met to hit for the cycle

1963 — Oriole’s Dick Hall retires his 28th consecutive player in relief

1966 — Pioneer 7 launched into solar orbit

1969 — Hurricane Camille claims more than 250