1. On June 17, 1861, the Battle of Vienna took place in Fairfax County during the American Civil War. Accidental friendly fire killed Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart's aide during the battle.

2. On June 17, 1941, the Virginia State Council of Defense established Tobruk Defense Day in response to the German capture of Tobruk, a strategic port city in Libya during World War II.

3. June 17, 1775, marks the convening of the Virginia Provincial Convention, where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. The speech ultimately led to Virginia's decision to join the fight for independence from Great Britain.

4. In 1958, Virginia's own Arthur Ashe became the first African American to win the National Junior Indoor Tennis Championships, which took place on June 17 in Cleveland, Ohio. This was a major achievement at a time when segregation was still prevalent in tennis and many other sports.

5. On June 17, 1928, Charles F. Kettering, an inventor and engineer from Loudoun County, patented the first automatic transmission for automobiles. This innovation revolutionized the automotive industry and quickly became a standard feature in cars and other vehicles.