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| -Obits- |
| They slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God |
| 2011-01-28 |
| This year marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of NASA's Challenger space shuttle. Just 73 seconds after the launch on Jan. 28, 1986, a booster engine failed and caused the shuttle Challenger to break apart, taking the lives of all seven crew members. The spacecraft broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 EST "On this Day of Remembrance, as we honor our fallen heroes with tributes and public ceremonies, I will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Across the country, flags at NASA Headquarters and the NASA centers will be flown at half-mast in memory of our colleagues lost in the cause of exploration," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Jr. said. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #11 I actually wasn't even born yet, but I remember my Second-grade teacher talking about it, showing pictures, show the tape. She was a kindergarden teacher then in Florida who had taken her class to see the launch. It was something that haunted her since she herself had entered into the contest Christa McAuliffe won. The most fascinating thing I've found is the shrugs from those my age when Colombia blew up, yet my parents, teachers, and others all looked back on Challenger as a horrible tragedy. It simply solidified my determination not to forget my betters, who have gone on to The Lord before me. |
| Posted by: Charles 2011-01-28 23:30 |
| #10 OS thanks for posting Reagan. That man could say more in four minutes than zer0 could in a lifetime I was eating lunch downtown ATL in college, watched it live at the Varsity |
| Posted by: Beavis 2011-01-28 20:50 |
| #9 I was stationed at Travis Air Force Base, CA. Wife and kids and I were on vacation in Disney World. I remember it was like yesterday. |
| Posted by: Mr. Bill 2011-01-28 18:17 |
| #8 I gave my mom heck for making me go to school that day, wanted to watch the launch. I was in the library. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-01-28 17:36 |
| #7 I was just leaving Germany at the time, and walked into a crowded bar, and the whole place got silent as they stared at me. That is never a good sign. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-01-28 15:24 |
| #6 I think anyone of the proper age remembers where they were that fateful moment. I was on an oil rig out in the Gulf of Mexico. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2011-01-28 15:05 |
| #5 I was in Training at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas. I heard Taps playing around the noon hour, and everything went still and I saw the flag being lowered to half mast. It was my first adult experience with a national tragedy and being military at the time, it hit very hard. |
| Posted by: Rob06 2011-01-28 15:04 |
| #4 I remember it well. As or near the time it happend, I dreamed that I was on a cliff in Big Sur, (wearing a bright royal blue shirt), and through an act of betrayl, I was pushed off the cliff. I fell and fell and fell, seemingly forever. Suddenly I realized I was dead. I woke up and was greatly shaken as I had never died in dream before. I usually wake myself up first. It was strange. I had no TV or radio on, so I don't know if somehow I overheard something or if it was just plain weird. It was such a real and traumatic dream that I would not wear a bright royal blue shirt for several years. |
| Posted by: Martini 2011-01-28 13:35 |
| #3 I was overseas too - in Germany, at Ramstein AB for a broadcasters' conference. Our squadron CC was going to take those of us who were interested to the Kino in Landstuhl (a multiplex nearby which showed first-run American movies.) It was early evening, and I was getting dressed to go - and I had the live satellite newsfeed on. I think it was something like the Today Show, which because of the time change, aired in late afternoon/early evening. They broke away from the studio for coverage of the launch ... and there was nothing but the smoke trail in a clear blue sky. |
| Posted by: Sgt.Mom 2011-01-28 12:50 |
| #2 What a terrible day that was. I was overseas but saw it live. Not to get political, but that less than 5 minute speech of Reagan's was a great comfort. We felt he really did care and that it affected him deeply as it did us, as Americans. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2011-01-28 11:11 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2011-01-28 11:08 |