A historic event happens every day. We have all seen something big in history that sticks with us for the rest of our lives.
I’m sure you can think of something right now that sticks out in your mind about a historic event in your life.
For my parents’ generation, they have the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. That happened in November 1963 in Dallas. They also have the landing on the moon in July 1969 — although I was a tiny infant when this happened.
For my generation, we have the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, and, of course, 9/11.
Historic events of my parents’ generation
My parents haven’t talked in depth about the events during their lifetime. I do know when I have asked where they were when JFK was shot, they can tell me exactly what they were doing.
I can’t remember what they have told me at this point because it’s not something I can relate to. I should remember what they said, but when I don’t relate to it, it isn’t as important to me and doesn’t stick with me.
The effects of 9/11
Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of 9/11. I remember that day almost like it happened yesterday. I’m sure it’s the same way people feel about the earlier events in history.
I have a personal connection to what happened on 9/11. I won’t repeat the story here, but you can read it here from a previous blog post.
I also wrote about how this day changed me as a contributor for the Huffington Post. That day made me realize how much I needed to be strong and make some needed changes in my life. I don’t regret the decision I made in my life back then after that day.
This year’s high school freshman class weren’t born before this disaster. I do know one student who was actually born that day. I can’t imagine what his mom thought as she gave birth to a child in the crazy world we saw that day.
The effects of the Challenger
The first historic event I ever endured was the Challenger disaster. I was a senior in high school. I remember walking into my yearbook/newspaper class sixth period that day. My teacher asked me if I’d heard the news.
I was one of a couple of students in the class. The teacher allowed us to watch the explosion of the Challenger a few seconds after takeoff. This was the historic in and of itself because teacher Christa McAuliffe was on board. She was the first teacher allowed to go on the space shuttle.
Years later I was a staff member at a local high school. I learned one of the students I had in class was born the day of the Challenger disaster. He shared how his mom talked to him about the day when he got older and was able to understand.