Remember When

I remember it vividly as if it were yesterday. Our fifth grade teacher allowed us to come in early if we wanted to watch the launch of the Challenger. The whole class was there and it was a moment in history that I will never forget.

It meant a lot to the teaching world when Sharon Christa McAuliffe (Christa) was selected out of more than 11,000 applicants to join the Challenger crew in space.
Teachers around the nation were so proud that one of their own was chosen. It was as if they all were given the chance.

We all sat in our seats and waited for the count down and when it started, we all chimed in as the count reached 10. It was about 8:38 AM PST when the shuttle launched. Everyone in the room was glued to the TV. We watched in awe as the shuttle lifted and went toward the sky. Everyone was silent, amazed that we were even seeing this. It was just as good as being there in Florida. Then, we saw a lot of smoke then an explosion. None of us understood and no one thought anything of it. We thought it was normal. Mrs. Orhm ran to the TV and shut it off. We all protested to turn the TV back on because it wasn’t over yet however, Mrs. Orhm told us to take out our text books and read the next chapter. Again, we protested but Mrs. Orhm walked out of the room.

We watched as our teacher joined the others outside in the courtyard. They were listening to a radio. Their heads were bowed down, some crying, some hugging. We had no idea what was going on.

After a while, Mrs. Orhm came back in the classroom, makeup all down her face from tears. She told us to continue reading and for the rest of the day she sat there in quietness while we read, passed notes and tried to ask questions. She never said a word to us.

When I got home, I told my mother that something went wrong with the space shuttle and that’s when she told me the story of what happened. I understood then, the tears and the sadness that overcame our teachers. It was a horrific tragedy that had happened to their own. I think a piece of themselves died that day because Christa represented every teacher in our country.

Today, I remember those on the Challenger as well as those on the Columbia for their brave efforts to give us a name in history. You will always be remembered.

WELCOME HOME DISCOVERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are glad that you are back on Earth safe and sound.