God Speed Challenger Crew

I was in the fifth grade at Erie Street Elementary School in Fulton, New York when the space shuttle Challenger made it's final flight. I remember those moments very clearly. I did not see the accident live, but the sixth grade class, who was normally across the hall from us, had a TV set up out in the hallway to watch. I remembered excusing myself to go to the boy's room, which was three flights downstairs. When I came back up, the shuttle was in flight, and I watched it for a moment before returning to my class. I had only been back in my seat for a few seconds when pandemonium broke out in the hall.

It's impossible to describe the feelings I had that day, as they were a jumbled mess. I remember my mom and her next door neighbor friend, Shannon, were crying when I got home. Everyone just seemed to be in a state of shock, and it was as if the world stopped turning for a little while.

I'd like to leave this post with a link to my favorite article ever written on the disaster, by Dennis E. Powell. Powell was nominated for a Pulitzer for this article, and I consider it mandatory reading for everyone.