Space Shuttle Challenger

    It's been 30 years now since that fateful day, January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just after take off. Remembering those lost on that day:

• Francis R Scobee, Commander
• Michael J Smith
• Ellison S Onizuka
• Judith A Resnick
• Ronald E McNair
• Gregory B Jarvis
• S Christa McAuliffe

   One of those moments where you "know where you were at that moment". I was living with my mom. Out of school, but not working. My best friend had just been killed a few months earlier. I was in a constant state of depression, either crying or sleeping. I was sleeping at that moment. Mom was at work, a kid's clothing store at the local mall. There was an electronics store just across from them. The launch had been playing on all of their televisions out front. Mom saw it and called me. I will never forget that phone call. "Wake up! The Space Shuttle just blew up!" I couldn't believe it. Turned on the tv and watched in disbelief. I was obsessed with the Space Shuttle. Did a full science fair project about it in like 3rd grade, had the models, photos of myself with one of them when they flew through and stopped in Houston. It was pain on top of pain.

   This is the memorial for the Challenger astronauts at Arlington National Cemetery, taken in June 2003.

  We will never forget them, not the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of Earth' to 'tough the face of God'

Korean War Memorial, Washington DC

Wright Brothers National Memorial

   On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made the first successful controlled flight of an airplane. The first flight was made by Orville and the plane traveled only 120 feet. Wilbur took a second flight 175ft, and Orville took the third flight 200ft. Wilbur made the longest flight of the day on the fourth attempt, going 852ft in nearly a minute of airtime. The accomplishment barely made the news.

Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863

   On this day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address. The speech was given at a dedication of the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle was just a few months before, in July of 1863. The monument above is marked as the site of the speech, though it was likely not given at this spot. This marker is just inside the cemetery and was placed in 1912. The photo below is the Soldiers National Monument, another site often thought of as the site of the speech, but it was not. The actual site was more likely inside Evergreen Cemetery, which is just over a fence to the east. The Soldiers monument was dedicated in 1869.

Veteran's Day

   On this day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day at the eleventh month in 1918, the first World War ended and this day became known as "Armistice Day", later known as "Veteran's Day". On Memorial Day in May we remember the lives of those who fell during service to our country. Today, Veteran's Day, we give thanks to all of those who have served in the military.
   We really should thank them every single day, and we really can't thank them enough.

October 19th, America's True Independence Day

   Americans in the United States celebrate the Fourth of July every year as Independence Day. But perhaps we should be celebrating on October 19th as well. On this date, in 1781, at a small fishing town in Virginia, the articles of capitulation(surrender) were signed. Inside a farm house owned by Augustine Moore, British Lieutenant General Cornwallis surrendered to future president and commander of American forces, George Washington. Also present and signing the articles were Captain Thomas Symonds, British Navy, and Rochambeau, French commander who had assisted Washington in the final years of the war.

Obsession With Salem, Massachusetts

   I was not feeling well when we visited Salem, but it did not detract from my feeling of awe when seeing it for the first time. The sadness of the Trials memorial. The awesomeness of The Burying Point Cemetery, this rich history, the sense of familiarity from having seen the area on so many television shows. There were times I would just stand and look around, trying to take it all in, hardly believing I was really there. I know that I really, really want to return.

Liberty Tour Day 2: A Cloudy New York City

   It wasn't ideal conditions. That's always my luck. Too hot, too cold, too foggy, raining. I rarely seem to visit somewhere thinking "this is a perfect day for this!" But sometimes that just doesn't matter.