Challenger Anniversary Saturday

1/26/2006 | Todd Bush

[ToddBush]

Saturday is the 20th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. It's hard to believe it's been two decades, but I can remember that day like it was yesterday.

I was 8 years old and sitting in my 3rd grade class, when our teacher came back to the classroom after a trip to the teacher's lounge to watch the launch. The look of horror and confusion on her face before she even said anything made a couple of girls in the glass cry immediately.

After she told us "The space shuttle just exploded." I remember sitting in shock because my second grade class had nominated our teacher from the year before, Carole Booth, to be the teacher that got to go up in space. Even for an 8 year old, "what if she'd won?" was still a powerful thought.

Saturday, if you get a chance, throw out a pray or a thought skyward to those seven brave souls who died 20 years ago. And if you can find it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to re-read President Reagan's speech to honor the astronauts.

May God bless them and their families.

[ToddBush]

Ping for those who I know will appreciate this...

[Fierce Allegiance]

I was 8 years old and sitting in my 3rd grade class,

LOL< I was in the galley of the Coast Guard buoy tender I was stationed on.

Immediate joke that followed: What does NASA stand for: Need Another Seven Astronauts

[NonValueAdded]

Remembrance bump

[silverleaf]

The Day the Earth Stood Still
http://www.datamanos2.com/challenger/the_day.html

I was in Tampa, watched the track go up and explode in the sky overhead.

[day10]

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God." - Ronald Reagan

[day10]

Excuse me, did you day 8 years old?

Wow, am I old......

[ToddBush]

Yep. Wait, should have said 9... I was 9.

Does the help?

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I was 15. I was in chorus class. We were practicing for the Spring Concert when the Principle announced it over the PA system.

We had a late practice for the Annual Musical that day, and we went to the Pizza place on dinner break that evening and it was there on the TV that we saw the explosion for the first time.

[PaulaB]

I was 15 and remember me and a girlfriend of mine

watched it over and over and over after school

at her house. We couldn't believe it.

I'll never forget President Reagan's speech.

I was in tears..what a great man!!!

[HOTTIEBOY]

Man, has it been 20 years. I was sitting in 10 grade biology class. The teacher rushed one of those TV\VCR carts into the room and adjusted the antenna to get live news. We didn't really realize the significance being teenagers. But I do remember a few girls crying simply because the teacher was crying.

[Auntbee]

Am I the oldest one here???? I was 29. Remember it like it was yesterday.

[HOTTIEBOY]

Hey we are the same age....
Well actually I was 16.

[PaulaB]

LOL

[PaulaB]

We are the same age...so is

JRBC..can you imagine if we would have all went to the same school?


hehehehe

[HOTTIEBOY]

Madona, Beastie Boys

[PaulaB]

You gotta fight for your right



:P

[linda_22003]

I was eight years old for my first big national event, as well - the assassination of President Kennedy.

[day10]

Doesn't help.......

I was 23. I am so old.

I had taken some time off work that day to have repairs done on my car. I was sitting in the dealership waiting room watching the news break - I'll never forget it.

[silverleaf]

Actually I believe today is NASA's "Day of Remembrance" for Apollo, Challenger and Columbia astronauts.

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/dor/index_noaccess.html