Putting mine out today as well, and expressing my fervent hope that this tragedy doesn't allow the hand-wringers to derail our space program again. For all our complacency about it, it's a dangerous business. Always was, always will be. But it is perhaps the business that speaks most directly to the American heart and sense of adventure. I'm quite certain President Bush knows this very well.
We had blue skies yesterday, as well, and we too are overcast today. Very appropriate, as you said.
My local news affiliate seems only to remember the Challenger accident and referred to today's events as the "second" tragedy for the Space Program. I was so mad, I had to turn the channel. Ignorance is rampant. Reagan looked for guidance from his predecssors, just as Bush will today.