Today in HistoryToday <$>is Saturday, September 2, the 245th day of 2006. There are 120 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE<$>

In 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out, claiming thousands of homes, but only a few lives.

In 1945, Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri<$>, ending the Second World War.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“True excellence is rarely found, even more rarely is it cherished.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, dramatist and author (1749-1832).