1. In 1864, the Battle of Piedmont was fought near present-day Waynesboro, Virginia, and was a significant victory for Union forces including many North Carolina soldiers. Col. William Henry Forney, who had been raised in Lincoln County, North Carolina, was killed in the battle.
2. In 1944, thousands of soldiers from North Carolina were among the Allied forces that landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in what is now known as D-Day. Many of these soldiers lost their lives in the battle.
3. In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy visited North Carolina during his presidential campaign. He spoke in Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro, calling for an end to the Vietnam War and urging racial equality. Just a few weeks later, he was assassinated in California.
4. In 1982, the World's Fair opened in Knoxville, Tennessee. North Carolina was one of the states represented at the fair, showcasing its modern technology and industry. The fair attracted millions of visitors from around the world.
5. In 2019, Eric Reid, a former NFL player from Louisiana, settled a grievance with the NFL over claims that he had been blackballed from the league for speaking out against police brutality and racial injustice. Reid's grievance was supported by the NFL Players Association, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.