In Memory of Fallen Heros

[reefrunner69]

When I was 16 years old, the Spaceshuttle Challenger exploded on take off, almost 17 years to the day...the Spaceshuttle Columbia is destroyed on it's return flight path. My heart goes out to the Family, Friends and co-workers of the spaceshuttle crew. It is another tragedy and set back to our manned space program.

[fishfreek]

I have to say that I was 12 in 1986 when the loss of Challenger occurred. Being at such a young age the those events had been almost burned into my skull and are items that I will never forget. To this day I refuse to watch video of the challenger launch.

Regretfully America and the world must face another shuttle tragedy. I was deeply saddened when I hear the news this morning of this event. What I then realized is that there are many young people in this country that do not remember the events of 1986 because either they where to young or where not born. I feel it imperative that those of us who do remember not only the challenger tragedy but also those who where living during the apollo tragedy to comfort and explain to the youth what has occurred. To my surpass my wife who is 22 told me that she did not remember the challenger tragedy. She would have been 6 at the time so I do not doubt that she would not have been able to fully grasp those events at that young age.

Words can not fully express the remorse I feel on this tragic day.

[New2Salt]

I do remember the Challenger tragedy also, our prayers go out to the families of these brave men and women.

[loganj]

I also remember the Challenger...was 18 that year. I never thought it would happen again and I hated to hear the news this morning. My flag is at 1/2 mast. One has to marvel at the courage of those astronauts...especially the ones who will go back up there knowing what could happen. They are the kind of people this country was built on and they have my unending respect.
Logan J

[targaboy78]

The news footage this morning was surreal. It didn't register right away, until we started talking about it. My wife and I were 22 when the Challenger tragedy occured and all the same emotions and feelings came flooding back. We can remember it as clearly as if it was last week.

Our prayers go out to the families and friends of the crew of the Columbia.

One has to marvel at the courage of those astronauts...especially the ones who will go back up there knowing what could happen.

Absolutely.

[Grant R]

Couldn't beleive it when I saw it all over the news yesterday and the worst thing was, so many of the crew had children.

Condolences to all of the families.

[michealprater]

I was 8 when challanger exploded. In my school we watched it happen live in the library. I will never forget the shock. My thoughs and prayers go out to the families of the crew of Columbia.

[Hara]

I live in the middle of the area that they are finding parts and pieces of everything.
I am two miles away from Peason Ridges, where the 3 craters are. 30 miles from where the Israeli astronauts clothing was found. I am finding that people here are helping in every way that they can, from combing the wooded areas to feeding the over 600 workers in the search areas. I work 15 miles from the lake where the "car sized part of the shuttle" ended up and that seems to be the area that is being searched the heaviest now. The weather is in the mid 40s in the day and below freezing at night. We had sleet today. The unpleasant tasks that the searchers are doing is not being helped by nature. (It is a little scary as they are now checking water supplies for contamination, the town I work in has changed to an alternative water supply)

My prayers are now with those that have to keep on searching.