Holocaust In The Sky

"HOLOCAUST IN THE SKY"
*
Sherri Laurier





The lesson was the toughest and most exciting Christa McAuliffe was ever to teach. "The Challenger" was to be her classroom and the people of the world were to be her students. But 11:39 AM on January 28, 1986 drastically changed everything and everyone. It’s been a year now, but I think we all still remember the horror. We can all still feel the flames.

Tragedy was in the eyes of all beholders. A Nation’s vision of hope and dreams was suddenly shattered and blown away. Our Glowing Glory exploded into a cascade of rampant flames. Bleeding fire covered the once-blue sky, and human remnants from the craft remained unidentifiable for 45 minutes.

The loudspeaker broke the uneasy silence and announced, "There has been a major malfunction." Those few words were heard but not understood. Disbelief and confusion were on faces across the Nation evidencing the silent shock of the doomed flight. We froze. The entire world was helpless and tears began to shed. The world watched with us and cried, too. And we have been forced to go on with our horrific memories of the tragedy in flight. I, too, kept watching and listening to the newscasts. I, too, cried and cried again. Each updated report was as shocking and painful as the first report. The disbelief was just as great. It never seemed as if it could be real.

One year ago, a representative stood before Christa’s parents and said, "The Shuttle has exploded." In horror, disbelief and shock, her mother repeated the exact words as if asking a question. My heart, and the hearts of all, bled with compassion and sympathy for the families and friends who had to be eyewitness to the unforeseen devastation. Their grief touched each and every one of us. Even her son’s third-grade class witnessed the blazing sky spectacle from the bleachers.

Not all of us knew Christa personally. You didn’t have to because she was so vibrant and special. Christa became known as the first citizen and teacher to face this unique challenge. It’s not hard to imagine why Christa McAuliffe, a bright and perky Concord High School teacher, was the one selected out of 11,000 teachers across the country to be honoured with this historic role. Her magical journey through the time and space beyond our world was thrilling not only for her, but also for New England and the world. And Christa was offered our love, respect and envy. She was an energetic soul enroute to the ultimate adventure. Our spirits soared with her as she began to sail toward the sky.

The media was persistent in its search for answers, just as we all were. We needed answers, though there were none. The visual horror was constantly retold and reproduced throughout the entire day; into the night. In homes and stores and other public places, strangers gathered together in grim silence to mourn the day’s unbelievable explosion. And the ‘Special Reports’ and news updates of the tragedy did not fade out too soon…

Instead of January 28, 1986 being recorded in history as a triumphant Tuesday, it has been looked back upon with a tremendous, indelible lament. And after only a year, we are realizing that our sense of loss shall never be healed: that of the mysterious cessation of seven heroes. We remember each moment of that day in detail – right from the proud waves of the seven as they began their voluntary journey into the immense blue unknown. We remember exactly where we were at the moment of hearing the news; exactly what we were doing and exactly how far our hearts sank. We remember watching the video of the flaming fate that destiny held for our seven pioneers as they embarked upon the most challenging journey ever known.

I remember my activities and whereabouts the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, don’t you? And 25 years later, I pass through yet another day of catastrophic history which shall forever remain fresh in my mind. I felt as if I were watching the nightmare of the Hindenberg. I was. We all were. But this is the 1980’s, well into the age of technological wonders. The shuttle is the so-called modern air carrier of our day just as the Hindenberg was the modern explorative vehicle in its day. Space travel for non-astronauts has been confirmed now. We could all expect to venture beyond the clouds. To fly past the confines of the distant haze. To soar into space. To become part of the "broader horizon" we wish to explore. To become one of the stars.

And that’s what Christa has become. Not just a teachernaut. A pioneer. A woman with a passion for incredible challenges. A legend. A real star.

Christa and her six crewmates are all legends now. All heroes. All stars. They worked their lifetimes for their reward. And then they were instantaneously blasted into space in a trillion particles. They did not go travelling through space as planned – they’re actually now a part of space itself. They can now soar through the universe as freely and as far as their spirits can trek. They took a flight beyond their wildest VisionQuests only to become part of the hell-fire of the wretched Challenger. But our heroes would still have us learn from the pain and the event itself. Though their invaluable lives were stolen in a moment of furious fire, they would wish us to keep reaching beyond the stars, to keep exploring new frontiers and to uncover the mysteries of the vast unknown. We shall always feel the sorrow, but must maintain our pride and respect.

So when you look to the sky, think about Christa and her partners of the infamous Challenger. We must derive our strength from them – from their love and dedication not only to our Country, but the world, and the sacrifices they made for us all. The human race. Now, when the stars appear at night, look closely and you’ll see seven stars which are brighter than the others. And remember that Christa is one of those stars and will shine upon us forever.