Where were you when...?

Question

My grandmother had Pearl Harbor. My mother had JFK. I had Challenger and 9/11.

Where were you when JFK was assassinated?

Where were you when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986?

Where were you when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated in 2003?

Where were you when the events of 9/11 occurred?

How did these each of these events change your world?

I was writing a story for a graduate school class and just wanted to follow up online about what others thought. This site is pretty global.

Answer 1

I am currently 28 years of age.

1) I wasn't alive when JFK was assassinated. But I am fascinated with learning more about his death and how it was orchestrated.

2) I was sitting in my first grade classroom and we were watching the take off. It was horrible to see. I went to a catholic grade school so the principal led the school in a prayer over the intercom.

3) I woke up early that morning and happened to flip on the T.V. as they were just televising the initial reports of the disaster. The Columbia had not yet broken up, but they had lost communication. I was devasted for the astronauts and their families.

4) I was in a hospital bed recovering from an illness. I always watched the Today's show in the morning and that particular morning I had it on as they first reported a plane hitting the World Trade Centers. I saw the second plane hit Tower 2 (South Tower) in real time. I realized it was a plane immediately and that it had intentionally struck Tower 2, but the reporters thought it was an explosion from Tower 1 that hit Tower 2, until they reviewed the tape. I was mortified, but burning with anger. I realized our attitude about how we saw ourselves in the world would have to change. We would be fighting a monster that was much more difficult to find and destroy compared to a conventional war against a nation.

Answer 2

I wasn't born yet when JFK was assassinated.
I was in school when the Challenger exploded. The teacher brought in a TV so we could all watch the coverage.
I don't remember where I was when the space shuttle disintegrated.
I was on my way to work when 9/11 happened. I was listening to a local station when one of the disc jockeys, said, "Oh my God, another plane has hit the twin towers". This cannot be an accident. I was in utter shock, disbelief. I thought it was a joke. This could not be happening in the United States of America.

Although I am sure each event did affect my life in one way or another, the only one that I notice changed my life was 9/11. I feel closer to my family, my friends. I am much more patriotic. I no longer take freedom for granted. I feel a profound sadness for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. It is a moment in time I will never ever forget.

Answer 3

I was fours years of age when the Challenger exploded. I was in college dorms. When 9/11 took place I was in college class taking a psychology test. I think that 9/11 change the world in big way and not all of being for the best. It made American more sacred. People are starting to lock there doors at night or when they leave. People have more of a hard time trust people. I hope that this was of some help.

Answer 4

When 9-11 happened, I was in 4th grade in Peoria, Illinois. They didn't let us know that much information at school, but when I got home, the television was on for the rest of the night. It's pretty easy to say how 9-11 changed our world (ex. new rules, new policies, distrust in Middle East countries, etc...)

I think that I was in a car driving through Princeton, Illinois when Columbia exploded. Bush came on the radio and talked about it. It really did not change my world that much, but it was a sad day. We discussed it in science class the following day in great depth.

Are you doing this for a report, or are you just curious? I'd be curious about what other Americans thought. I was born after most of these events, so I can't help you on those.

Answer 5

I was in 8th grade when JFK was assassinated. We heard about it when we came back to school after lunch. It was my first experience with a national tragedy.

When Challenger exploded, I was a teacher in a local high school. A few classes were watching the launch on TV when it happened.

When Columbia disintegrated, I started hearing about in on my car radio while I was driving home from running errands. I turned on the TV as soon as I got home and watched the coverage.

I was teaching when the principal came on the speaker and explained to everyone about what was happening. Later I went to the library where the events were on TV.

These tragic events remind me of how fragile life is, and how important it is to be sure to be prepared for eternity.

Answer 6

Was Junior in High School sitting in class, and it was first time PA System was used. Everyone was very shocked when we heard that JFK was shot and killed. School was cancelled, and we were all let out early.
Was watching the Challenger mission take off and saw it explode.
Was on computer when news alert told the Columbia had problems. Turn on television, and for about fifteen minutes they held out hope that they might have landed somewhere, but soon they told it had been destroyed and all aboard were most likely dead.
Was on computer when news alert told there had been explosion at Pentagon. Turned on television and watch off and on for one week what had happened.
By far JFK assignation effected me the most, because so much hope seemed to have been killed

Answer 7

JFK i was not alive

for challenger i was in HS and we were all called into the gym and we watched what happened on a big TV. while we were all sad it didn't change my life.

for Columbia i was living in Houston. 3 of the astronauts went to my church. the day that it happened i was actually traveling on my way to visit a former patient of mine who was in a nursing home (he had a spinal injury but is only in early 30's) in diboll tx. the debris field actually included parts of this town. i was listening what happened while driving and could not believe it. when i got back to houston life was hectic because the are i lived was very close to the nasa community. but life went on as normal after a short time because taking risks is part of their job.

on 9/11/01 i was taking a class to become a cna. i had a test that day and was studying when someone came by and told me what was going on. as soon as i heard that a plane hit the first tower, i knew it was not an accident. i was born and raised in nyc and i know how things work. this could not be an accident. planes do not fly over that area. i took my test and got a hundred. went to the tv in the break room just in time to see tower 2 get struck. what a horrible day. i could not get in touch with family till later that evening. my aunt works across the street from tower8 and my mom worked at the time10 blocks from the trade center. everyone in family is ok but the affects on me are harder than it was on them. i have taken this personally. i had some great memories of being at the towers as a kid. i was in the ny all city high school chorus and we performed there several times. once we did a day performance there and then went across the street to the financial center and did a performance at a fund raiser in front of ronald reagan and george bush senior. it was a great time in my life. at that time in my life the only good thing in my life was the chorus. i am pissed at the fact that this has happened. how dare you come into my house and take a **** in the living room. if i ever catch you i will give you a columbian necktie. so as you can tell i now have an immense hatred. i want to get a huge tattoo on my back of the towers and have been saving up for it. what i want will end up costing a couple of thousand bucks because it will take up my whole back. i tried to enlist after it happened but was not allowed to because of my past, so i also been cheated of my chance to get revenge. this is the best country in the world. try to blow it up again and we might just do a hiroshima next time.

matty

Answer 8

Wasn't born when JFK was assassinated. Can't remember the space shuttle. lol same to third question. At work when the fourth happened. It didn't make one bit of different to my life.

Answer 9

JFK I was at work
Challanger at work
Columbia I was in Arizona
911 At home in bed with my honey and the radio was on
The only one that changed our world is 911