On January 28, 1986, I was in 5th grade, in Mrs. Lukens’ class. We were working on math when the principal came on the PA to tell us that the space shuttle exploded.

To this day, I get emotional about the memory. I think every generation has at least one “where were you” moment. My parents’ generation had the Kennedy assassination. We had the Space Shuttle Challenger. Then we had 9/11. I hope we’re done.

Photo credit: By Kennedy Space Center [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.