5 Historical Events During My Lifetime By alexh11 May 15, 1997 Day I was Born Sep 11, 2001 9/11 9/11 May 17, 2004 Massachusetts becomes 1st US state to legalize gay marriage massachusetts becomes first US state to legalize gay marriage Apr 2, 2005 Pope John Paul II Dies Pope John Paul II Dies May 18, 2009 Srilankan Civil War Ends srilankan civil war ends