In Remembrance - "...Reach for the Stars..."

[82Rigger]

Apollo 1

January 27, 1967

Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed White, Roger Chaffee

[82Rigger]

STS 51L

January 28, 1986

Dick Scobee
Mike Smith
Ellison Onizuka
Christa McAuliffe
Ron McNair
Greg Jarvis
Judith Resnik

[82Rigger]

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

[82Rigger]

STS 107

February 1, 2003

Rick Husband
William McCool
Kalpana Chawla
David Brown
Laurel Clark
Michael Anderson
Ilan Ramon

[Gimpy]

for posting this Steve.

We should all take the time to remember & honor each and every one of these true American heros.

I think most of us from the "baby-boomer' generation hold a special bond and reverance with those who challenged the unknown of outer space and will forever be linked to the successes and the few heartbreaks they endured. I can still remember that feeling of wonder and excitement of hearing John F. Kennedys' speech at his inauguration when he pledged to put a man on the moon and how it affected my sense of pride and patriotism for this great country.

May we always honor their memory.

God bless them all.

[Jerry D]

On the news they pointed out how this generation today will use the Challenger Tragedy to remember where they where on Jan 28th 1986. Well for me it will be an easy thing to remember I was on my day off stationed at Incirlick AB Turkey and sitting in my Dorm room with a cold beer watching the Shuttle Launch on AFN when it Blew Up.I sat there watching it over and over thinking are they in their suits and can they escape alive? Hours later we find out they died almost immediately from the explosion. BTW Christa McAuliffe just got seven new students to teach from Union Co,Fla they were all in a car between a school bus and a Semi that crashed thursday 26 Jan @ approximately 3:30PM school bus and a truck collided in Union County on Florida 121 approximately 4 miles south of Lake Butler. The wreck claimed the lives of 7 people(all kids from the same family. A semi-tractor trailer and a school bus came to rest off of the road. The Grampa died a few hours later from a broken Heart. THe whole county is in shock over the deaths of the children ranging from 20 months to 15 yrs old.

[82Rigger]

On the news they pointed out how this generation today will use the Challenger Tragedy to remember where they where on Jan 28th 1986.

Jerry,

Yep! Just as MY generation uses the assassination of President Kennedy to remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on Nov 22, 1963.

With Challenger, I remember how upset I became in the weeks after the disaster, when I learned that the astronauts survived the initial break-up and were killed when the crew cabin impacted with the water almost 4 minutes later.

[melody1181]

I was almost 5 when Challenger happened. In my adult years I have become a fan of the history of the space programs.

I remember STS 107 very well. Our airport is now named after one of our cities own, Rick Husband.


The thing that marked me as something I will never forget is of course September 11th. I remember every second of that day. It feels like it was yesterday. I think it marked my generation forever. I think allot of us lived with our heads in the clouds and we were shoved back down to earth.

To all men and women who have given there lives in exploration and service to our Country thank you is never enough. Can you imagine the view they have now?

[82Rigger]

Gimpy, Jerry, and Melody,

Your posts are bringing back memories!

We Vietnam era folks (baby boomers) literally grew up along with the US space program.

I remember in elementary school (1957) when the Soviets launched Sputnik 1. That was scary even for us kids because the Soviets were a nuclear power and our mortal enemy.

In Jr High and High School, Mom would let me stay home from school to watch Alan Shepherd and John Glenn and the other Mercury flights on TV.

I remember how thrilled I was when President Kennedy vowed to take us to the moon "before the end of the decade".

And that was accomplished!!!

I feel like I have been a participant, not just an "eyewitness to history".

What a wonderful trip it's been!! A fantastic experience!!

I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

[Jerry D]

Steve , I know what you man on the Space program I was lucky.My first three years of school ,K-2nd grade, we were always brought into the Auditorium when there was a rocket launch from 67-70. My grade school Phelps Elementary in Springfield, Mo had a nice 27-30 inch b/w TV and all us youngin's would sit on the floor watching those missions take off and orbit the earth,then head for the moon and later the splashdowns. Was always amazing seeing those Saturn 5's and other rockets lift off. Didn't hurt that Star Trek was just coming on TV during those years too!