Friday, January 28, 2011

Where were you?

It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago today. On this morning, the space shuttle Challenger carrying mission STS-51L lifted off of Pad 39B from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL at 11:40 AM EST. Unfortunately, only 73 seconds after liftoff, the shuttle exploded claiming all seven lives on board. I was in my second period class in my freshman year of highschool. It was a shock to all of us. Lost that day were Commander Dick Scobee, pilot Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and teacher Christa McAuliffe. Here is hoping their memory will not be forgotten.

Do you remember where you were when it happened??

8 comments:

  1. I was in Drama class my Junior year of high school. We were all sitting around waiting for class to start, and watching the in-school tv channel. It was unbelievable what happened that day.

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  2. I was 9 years old and for some reason not at school that day. I remember watching it live and not really comprehending what I was seeing. Along with 9/11, it is one of my 2 most memorable where were you days.

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  3. First grade here. In line to go watch it in the library. I was all excited because I was into space stuff then. I don't remember saying it, but years later, I ran into my first grade teacher. According to her, I reacted by telling her that I was glad she wasn't on it.

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  4. I was in college, done with classes for the day. I was driving to the ATM (a fancy new thing in those days), and heard the news on the radio.

    I drove to my grandmother's and stared at the TV all afternoon.

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  5. I can remember being home for some reason or another and watching the entire thing unfold on live TV.

    May they be forever blessed, for having the courage to reach for the stars, and to have found heaven way too soon.

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  6. I was in the living room at home waiting with my siblings to go to my grandfather's calling hours. He had passed away two days before. I was in second grade at the time.

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  7. My entire elementary school gathered in the cafeteria to watch the lift off live on tv.

    I was wearing a white and aqua striped shirt with a collar. I don't know why I remember what I was wearing that day 25 years ago but I do.

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  8. I'll never forget this day... 8th grade second period math class... we were so excited. Back then every shuttle launch was a special event... but this one had a teacher on board, which made it even more special. I'm not 100% sure, but I think everyone in my school was watching it. I don't remember the exact details, but I remember my classmates and I watched in shock... and my teacher just sat down in her desk with her head in her hands. I'm not sure exactly when... it could have been seconds or minutes later... the principal came over the intercom and made an announcement.

    Thanks for posting this... it's funny that I can remember this moment in time better than 75% of my birthdays. Makes you think about events that left an mark on your childhood. This was definitely one of them.

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