Milestones

Ten years ago: 156 people were killed when Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed while trying to take off from a Detroit airport; the sole survivor was 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan. Thousands of people worldwide began a two-day celebration of the “harmonic convergence,” which heralded what believers called the start of a new, purer age of humankind.

Five years ago: On the eve of the Republican convention, President Bush and party officials heatedly denied a report that a confrontation with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was motivated by political concerns.

One year ago: A jubilant Bob Dole set out from the Republican convention, promoting his tax-cut plan as a boon to working families.