Friday Fun & Games - 20 July Commemorative Crossword

It's Friday! That means, of course, it's once again time for Friday Fun & Games -

Today is a special Friday, with a special puzzle to commemorate the occasion. 33 clues all pertaining to things that happened on 20 July:

Across

1. Today in 1822, this monk with a thing for plants was born. (two words)
3. Today in 1930, the temperature peaked at 106°F in this capital. (Today's predicted high: 86°F) (three words)
7. Today in 1977, the CIA was forced to release documents regarding the infamous ______ mind control program. (three words)
8. Today in 1864, in Atlanta the battle of this famous creek was fought.
9. Today in 2003, ______ doing commercial work in India by new law began wearing night reflectors to avoid auto accidents.
10. Today in 1947, ______ was born down south and started looking for a guitar. (two words)
12. Today in 1932, comics creator Richard Joseph ______ was born.
13. Today in 1994, ______ publicly offered a half million dollars for an alibi. (three words)
17. Today in 2005, ______ became the 4th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
18. Today in 1973, ______ died and a thousand conspiracies and legends were born. (two words)
21. Today in 1847, Comet Brorsen-Metcalf was discovered by the German astronomer, ______.
23. Today in 1969, ______ Jr. was the second man to walk on the moon. (two words)
25. Today in 2017, ______ went live with the first meandering ramble and a painting of the Composite Stan Lee. (four words)
27. Today in 1983, the French government detonated an atomic bomb at ______ Atoll.
29. Today in 1921, US Congresswoman ______ becomes the first female to preside over the floor of the House Of Representatives. (three words)
30. Today in 1968, ______ became the first Heavy Metal band to have a song on the charts. (two words)
31. Today in 1940, Billboard Magazine published their first Singles Record Chart, with this singer in the #1 position. ( two words)
32. Today in 1942, the first detachment of the Women's Army Auxilary Corps entered basic training at ______. (three words)
33. Today in 1968, Jane Asher broke up with him on live television. (two words)

Down

2. Today in 1917, #258 was the first drawn for the ______. (two words)
4. Today in 1940, California opened its first freeway, the ______. (three words)
5. Today in 1938, this Dame most famous for her M. Appeal was born. (two words)
6. Today in 1923, _____ was assassinated in Chihuahua. (two words)
11. Today in 1911, Pioneering Filipino comic artist ______, affectionately known as 'Mang Pepe', was born.
14. Today in 1985, treasure hunters struck a $400 million payday from the sunken Spanish galleon ______. (four words)
15. Today at 10:10am, Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog reunion is scheduled at the San Diego Comic Con in this room. (two words)
16. Today in 1712, Great Britain was read ______. (three words)
19. Today in 1976, ______ landed on Mars (two words)
20. Today in 1935, NBC premiered the G-Men radio program, later renamed ______.
22. Today in 1977, i attended my first San Diego Comic Con at the ______. (three words)
24. Today in 1973, Congress reaffirmed their Constitutionally exclusive power to declare war by re-limiting the President's ability to do so with the ______. (three words)
26. Today in 1810, ______ declared independence from Spain.
28. Today in 1878, the first ______ in Hawaii commenced operation.

 As usual, the puzzle answers will be provided in tomorrow's Saturday Solutions.
The reason for today's puzzle is hidden within the puzzle, and we'll elaborate later. See you then.

all art & puzzle by -3- (2013-2018)