It happened on… February 19 — Saviez-vous Que? — Tous les jours, découvrez de nouvelles infos pour briller en société !

2008

Fidel Castro steps down as president of Cuba. His brother Raúl succeeds him.

Patrick Roy earns his 300th NHL victory as goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche. He reaches this milestone in just 12 seasons.

The Soviet Union launches the Mir space station into orbit.

Coca-Cola sells Cherry Coke for the first time.

Gaetan Boucher wins two gold medals (1,000m and 1,500m) and one bronze medal in long-track speed skating at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.

The U.S. 5th Fleet and its 30,000 Marines land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.

A prize is included in a Cracker Jack box for the first time.

Thomas Alva Edison invents the phonograph, a music-playing machine.

It happened on… February 19