25 Years Ago

It's May 1981. A design for the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial is chosen from among 1,421 entries. Maya Ying Lin, 21, a Yale undergraduate who was born in Ohio of Chinese immigrant parents, wins with her simple design of two 200-foot-long granite walls inscribed with the names of those killed or missing in Vietnam.

 Prince Charles arrives in Washington DC for a four-day visit.

 Sears puts its catalog on video disc which shoppers can view in the store.

 At the Pentagon, 25,000 people protest the US's involvement in El Salvador.

 Pope John Paul II is shot as he rides in his Popemobile among a large crowd in St. Peter's Square. Two American women, Ann Odre, 58, and Rose Hall, 21, are also wounded in the assassination attempt. The Pope is rushed to the hospital and undergoes surgery.

 Three days after he is shot, Pope John Paul II releases a 3 1/2 minute recorded statement in which he says that he forgives his assailant, and prays for the two American women  who were wounded in the attack.

 President Reagan presents Space Shuttle astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen (pictured below) with the Distinguished Service Medal. Young also receives the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

 Entertainer George Jessel, 83, dies of a heart attack in California.

 President Reagan gives the commencement speech at West Point.

 An EA-6B jet crashes on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Fourteen servicemen are killed.

 Buckingham Palace announces that 2,500 invitations have been sent for the July 29 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

 A new art gallery opens on Lake Street in Owego.

 The Owego-Apalachin School Board cuts 10 1/2 teaching positions.

 The Owego Spring Fling Day is held at Hickories Park. The family fun day includes contests, games, and special events.

 The New York State Department of Transportation wants the Endicott-Johnson Workers Arch in Endicott moved because it is complicating efforts to widen the road. The arch was built and paid for by EJ workers in 1920.

 Hilkins Jewellers on Washington Avenue in Endicott is having a going  out of business sale.

 The idea of re-naming Recreation Park the Rod Serling Recreation Park is scuttled when it is discovered that the deed states that the park shall be named George F. Johnson Recreation Park.

 The 19th Annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta is held in Bainbridge.

 The owner of 5 Riverside Towers gets final approval to convert the building to go co-op. The average two-bedroom apartment will sell for about $30,000. 

 Monday night TV shows include Real People, Enos (a spin-off of The Dukes of Hazzard), The Greatest American Hero, Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, and Quincy.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Heaven's Gate, The Jazz Singer, Urban Cowboy, Friday the 13th Part 2, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, 9 to 5, Bustin' Loose, The Four Seasons, and Stir Crazy.

 Best selling books include Noble House by James Clavell, Gorky Park by Martin Smith, The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriott, Richard Simmons Never-Say-Diet Book by Richard Simmons, and Cosmos by Carl Sagan.

 And RCA's new products include TVs that can accept as many as 57 cable television channels!