35 Years ago– 1979 (March 9) A Japanese solider surrenders in the Philippines 29 years after World War II had ended.  Though numerous attempts have been made over the years to communicate to him that the war was over, the solider believed the communiques to be a hoax.  Duty bound to his military code he refused to change his position until his superior officer gave him the order to do so.  After a Japanese student reported that he had meet the war holdout, the Japanese government sent the soldiers commanding officer (now a bookseller) to the Philippines to order Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda to surrender.

45 Years ago- 1964 (March 9) The first Ford Mustang rolls off the assemble line today.  Built off the platform of the earlier Ford cars, the Mustang proves affordable for teenagers of the era and sells more than a million in the first 18 months.

50 Years ago- 1959 (March 9) Barbie, the iconic girls' doll created by Mattel co-founded by Ruth Handler, debuts at the American Toy Fair and soon lead her manufactures into the Fortune 500.

75 Years ago- 1934 (March 20) Newspapers are sold via vending machine for the first time in Columbia, Pennsylvania.  Vending machines have been around since 215 B.C. and have since dispensed everything from books and dinners to holy water and aquatic animals.

(March 2009 Newsletter, page 2)