August 7 is the 219th day of the year. There are 146 days remaining until the end of the year. This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday (58 in 400 years each) than on Wednesday or Thursday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Monday or Saturday (56).
+ 1782 – George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle. It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.
+ 1789 – The United States Department of War is established.
+ 1959 – Explorer program: Explorer 6 launches from the Atlantic Missile Range in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
+ 1981 – The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.
( Births )
+ 1942 – B. J. Thomas, American singer
+ 1945 – Alan Page, American football player and jurist
+ 1950 – Rodney Crowell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist