For Millions, This Is A Moment We’ll Never Forget
(We originally posted this a year ago. This is such an important moment in our lives, we felt the need to post it again. In fact, we’ll probably post it…
UNSPECIFIED LOCATION – NOVEMBER 11: (FILE PHOTO) Space Shuttle Challenger crew members gather for an official portrait November 11, 1985 in an unspecified location. (Back, L-R) Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher-in-Space participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist Greg Jarvis and mission specialist Judy Resnick. (Front, L-R) Pilot Mike Smith, commander Dick Scobee and mission specialist Ron McNair. The Challenger and its seven member crew were lost seventy three seconds after launch when a booster rocket failed. (Photo by NASA/Getty Images)
Getty Images / Handout
(We originally posted this a year ago. This is such an important moment in our lives, we felt the need to post it again. In fact, we'll probably post it every year on this date. -C&D)
January 28, 1986. When I just say the date, nothing pops immediately into my mind. However, when I say this is the day The Challenger exploded, there is an immediate and visceral reaction. Every generation has its "Kennedy Assassination" moment(s). It is that moment that you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news...
For example, all who are old enough remember where they were when the towers were attacked on 9/11/01. For some, perhaps it's when you heard Dale Earnhardt had died at Daytona, or more recently, where you were when you heard of Kobe Bryant's tragic passing. For me, the first of these moments occurred when I was 16 years old, sitting in the training room at Cypress Creek High School getting my ankles taped before basketball practice.
There was always a TV on in the background and in those days it was not uncommon for network news to break away for coverage of a Space Shuttle launch-especially this one. This particular mission had the presence of high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space.
What was a boisterous training room filled with boys talking a cutting up was rendered completely silent in seconds. January 28th, 1986.
I'll never forget it.
