That morning, January 28, 1986, I was at my computer writing a story about something farm related. That's all I remember. At the time, I was a writer for Progressive Farmer magazine, so it had to be something farm related. My assistant stuck her head into my office and told me that the Challenger had just exploded. She was crying.
I can't remember much after that. I think maybe we all went home. Or maybe we just went to the conference room where there was a tv. I can't remember.
I do remember that mostly all I could think of for days afterward, and still sometimes, is what they must have endured. I hold onto the hope that the blast rendered them unconscious immediately. But we'll never know.
And I remember part of President Reagan's address to the nation, the part about the astronauts having "slipped the surly bonds of earth." Godspeed, Challenger Crew. We'll always remember you.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 01/28/2016, Debra said ...
I was in the car listening to my radio. The usually stoic news director came on the station and announced it. I remember it clearly. I also remember Reagan's tribute that they "slipped the surly bonds of earth...to touch the face of God."
On 01/28/2016, Chris Horne said ...
I live in NH and we were all greatly affected. I had just picked up my 4yo daughter from the library story time and we rushed home to watch it on tv. I explained to her why this launch was so important because there was a teacher on it and she was going to teach millions of children from space. When it exploded I just about went into shock and I started crying. My little girl kept asking me why I was crying so I had to turn off the tv and change the subject until I could tell her in a way she would understand. She is 34 and a teacher so I like to think that day had something to do with it.
On 01/28/2016, Sherry V. said ...
I was at work at a hotel type facility and we had the television on in the recreation room and we were all watching it.
After the explosion we were just all stunned and teary eyed.
The only part of President Reagan's speech that I remember was the quote several people have noted. . . ."slipped the surly bonds of earth. . . to touch the face of God."
On 01/28/2016, Karen in Michigan said ...
I was at work in a fabric store and didn't find out until later. But my now-ex husband and I wrote a letter to the President, our Congressman, and our Representative saying we still supported the space program and not to let this deter the important projects derived from it. We got letters back immediately from the Congressman and Representative and eventually one back from the White House. And I got a letter from NASA inviting me to apply for the civilian astronaut program. I didn't--I couldn't pass the health requirement. I kept the letter but not the husband.
On 01/28/2016, Sophie said ...
I was living and working in France, but happened to be on a business trip in Northern California. Friends picked me up to take me to a meeting and shared the news. We were all quiet during the trio, listening to the news in the car.
On 01/28/2016, Barbara Anne said ...
I was a surgical nurse in Memphis and was at work. A co-worker came to each surgery room to tell us as as there was time, we'd go to the doctor's lounge where there was a TV. It was stunning and unimaginable then and still is.
That it happened 30 years ago is also unimaginable.
Hugs!
On 01/29/2016, Denise in PA said ...
I was at work, in the hallway going back into my office area - I will never, ever, forget the moment that I heard
-----
No comments:
Post a Comment