Remembering
Youngsters make the connection between space shuttle disasters 17 years apartBy Michelle Lavato/Correspondent
Warm rays of sun danced in the hair of about 100 kindergarten-through-second-grade students as they sat outside on a cool February morning peering at a concrete and bronze mass that didn’t make much sense to them.
On the mass was a memorial to NASA's space shuttle Challenger, lost in the Florida skies 17 years ago. The names of the seven Challenger astronauts were engraved in bronze – five men and two women who dared to explore the heavens.
Next to the Challenger memorial was a small table. On its top sat a photo of seven more astronauts lost to the sky – five men and two women who dared to explore the heavens.
Behind the photo, a space shuttle Columbia flag flew proudly, whipping at the mysterious abyss that claimed the seven astronauts.
The flag, also representing countless ground crew affected by the tragedy, bore the pain of the nation’s loss. But it bore something else as well: the American hope inherent in its people and the determination to begin again – daring to explore, looking to the skies for hope and answers and a new future.
“It was really very memorable. A special moment. The wind kicked up and blew the flag out. The kids were silent and they seemed to understand,” said Cheryl Thompson, corporate relations manager of Apple Valley’s Lewis Center for Educational Research, Academy for Academic Excellence, Thunderbird Elementary School campus.
School founder Rick Piercy Jr. stood in front of the students, whose wide eyes watched him for leadership. Piercy explained the 1986 Challenger disaster and the great things astronauts did. He said children have an inherent need to explore.
“I want you to remember the sacrifice they have given,” he said, encouraging his students to continue to explore whatever their hearts desire.
One by one the children walked to the memorial photo and placed a flower by its side. When there were too many flowers for the table and the photo, children began leaving them at the foot of the flag.
“It was very simple, very special,” Thompson said. “When we were done, the kids sang ‘God Bless America.’”
Elementary school Principal Nancy Maclaren said the child really impressed her.
“One little girl impressed me when she said it broke her heart. She was amazed that anything bad could happen. She had lost a loved one herself and could relate to their loss,” Maclaren said. “One of the girls came up to me. She counted the monument and saw the Challenger had five men and two women. Then she counted the Columbia crew and saw they had five men and two women. She seemed to be tying it together.”
Now that the mourning is over, the administration and students at the Academy for Academic Excellence will begin again. Like NASA, which will return to work on the future of the space shuttle program, students and administration leaders will return to work as well.
Their first project is to build a second memorial. This time it will be dedicated to the space shuttle Columbia.
The kids will continue to grow and learn.
And someday, they will reach for the stars, whether it is in the space program or whatever other direction they choose for their life.
Used with permission 2003, San Bernardino Sun Newspaper