20 Years Ago Today...

[SB 405]

.....Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. Since I'm sure this is one of those "I remember where I was" moments in history I thought it might be interesting for some of us to recount where we were and how we heard about this horrible accident....I was on my way to work driving on the 22 freeway when the radio station I was listening to broke in with a news bulletin saying the craft had exploded and all aboard were killed. I remember getting to work and about twenty co workers had gathered around a TV in our break room. I don't think any of us got a bit work done the entire day,we just couldn't believe what had happened....very sad day.

[redhead]

I was in school (3rd grade I think) and my class had all gone to the library to watch the launch live.

I still remember the following minutes after that as we all were asking our teacher what was happening and why.

Such a sad day.

[retchp]

I can't remember where I was, but shortly after the disaster I began to become irritated when the news stories I would read or hear (to this very day) might in passing mention that schoolteacher Christa McCaullife was on board. No one else is hardly ever mentioned. They were all heroes and patriots and great Americans. Their names were:

Francis "Dick" Scobee
Mike Smith
Christa McCaullife
Dr. Judith Resnick
Ron Jarvis
Steve McNair
Ellison Onizuka

RIP

As an item of information I heard on the radio that when they threw seven boquets of flowers into the ocean at a ceremony shortly after the disaster that seven dolphins suddenly appeared and jumped out of the water and then swam off. Don't know if that story is true, but it gives me a good feeling anyway.

[SB 405]

Well said ret. However I was hoping for more than just two responses. Maybe most of the others were just pup's at the time and don't remember.

[Tom]

I remember it well. I was in Nuclear Power School in Orlando Florida. We would routinely get out of class to see the launches, this one was no exception. The results, however, were very different. It was shocking and awe-inspiring at the same time. Very difficult thing to witness, even though we weren't sure what we were seeing at the time. We found out within about 30 minutes. Very sad day. RIP crew Challenger.

Tom

[Tom]

On a side note.....Onizuka Air Force Base in Sunnyvale is named for the Hawaiian born Ellison Onizuka. It was recently listed as one of the many base closures across the US.

Tom

[SB 405]

Check this out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11031097/