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Do you remember?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

.....where you were or what you were doing when you heard about the following events? Younger members won't be able to answer some of the events.

The Viet Nam War? I was reading the newspaper and there was a small article about a death of a serviceman there. I had never heard of it, so I asked my mom. We looked up on a world map. I was 12 and in 7th grade. (1958)

John Glenn in space? I was in 10th grade and the school ran the live broadcast over the loudspeaker to all classrooms. ("1961)

Assassination of President Kennedy? I was a senior and in band at the time. One of the guys in the row by the speaker motioned to the band direct and he had us stop. They were announcing the Texas Governor had been shot. Our director raised his baton when the announcer nearly crying said that that the president was dead. There was complete silence, then everyone put their instruments away. School was dismissed and the ride home on the bus was quiet as no one spoke. It seems like yesterday. (Nov. 1963)

When Dr King was assassinated: I was baby sitting for a neighbor and was shocked. (April 1968)

The capture by North Korea of the USS Pueblo: My mother told me when I got home from classes. She had a cousin's son on board. (Apr.1969)

Walk on the moon? I was on a mini vacation at Lake Erie. A friend was with me and we listened to the live feed from our motel room. (July 1969)

The shooting of the students at Kent State: I was a student at Kent at the time. I was at the eye doctor's and it came over the radio and I started to cry. I was afraid to go to main campus and didn't know if I knew any of the students. I didn't. (May 1970)

11 Israeli's killed at the Olympics - watch the scenario unfold on the TV. We were horrified by the outcome that is now known as "Munich Massacre". (09 July 1972)

President Nixon left office: I was working at the PD and our chief brought in the department TV so everyone could watch. He said we were seeing history.
(Aug. 1974)

Elvis died? We were watching the today show. It was two days before we were married. (Aug 1977)

US Embassy taken by Iranians: I was at work when my husband called to tell me. (Nov. 1979)

John Lennon assassinated: Again I saw this on the Today show. (Dec. 1980)

President Reagan shot: I was on my way to Sarasota when we heard it on the car radio. (March 1982)

The bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beruit: I was watching TV. It was terrible. over 200 servicemen were killed. (Oct. 1983)

The Challenger explosion? I was at home getting ready for work. I knew that this area was where we could see launches and I called my mom right away. She was outdoors watching the launch and tried to describe it to me, but she was crying. (Jan. 1986)

1st Gulf War - Desert Storm: I was getting ready to go to my husband's Boy Scout meeting to help the boys earn their Citizenship merit badges when it came on the TV. I could barely make the two mile journey. We were at war.
(Jan. 1991)

Fall of the Soviet Union? I was at work at the PD in FL and one of the officers came in and told us. (Dec.1991)

Oklahoma City bombing: A friend called me at work to tell me. We didn't know what would happen. Was this done by a terrorist or was a war starting? We were all frightened. (Apr. 1995)

OJ found not guilty: On the radio at the beauty salon (Oct. 1995)

Princess Di killed: I had just returned from seeing my mama and turned on the computer and check the news stories and there were pictures. I cried. (Aug 1997)

Shootings at Columbine: I was working in the salon and heard it on the radio. All of us stylists were just sick. (Apr 1999)

JFK, Jr. killed in plane crash: I came home from computer classes and my friend told me. We watched everything on TV. I was so hoping they would be found ok. But that wasn't to be. (July 1999)

Fears about the Y2K bug: I read about it in the paper. (Oct. 1999)

The bombing of the Cole: Bob and I saw it on the news. (Oct 2000)

The bombing of the twin towers, pentagon, and flight 93 crash): I went to Blockbuster to return some videos and they had three TV's on. The were just reporting on Flight 93. Then they showed the Towers and the Pentagon. I went out to the car and told Bob we were under attack. (11 Sept 2011)

Columbia explodes over TX: Saw it on the net, then turned on TV and watched it. We knew something was wrong because we hadn't heard the sonic boom when it was scheduled to land. (Feb. 2003)

US attacks Iraq: Bob and I watched it on the net. (Mar 2003)

Suicide bombers kill and injure over 700 in London: Bob came into the living room to tell me. (July 2005)

Hurricane Katrina: We had been watching the track Katrina was taking, so we saw it on TV. (Aug 2005)

Haiti earthquake: I saw this on-line news. (Jan 2010)

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Watched on TV news. Bob and I were horrified. (Mar 2011)

Prince William and Kate's wedding: I got up at 4AM to watch on TV! (Apr 2011)

bin Laden Killed: Read about it on-line. (May 2011)


These are just some of the events I remember well. There are many more that could be listed: the Cuban missile crises, the fire that killed the three astronauts, the evacuation of Saigon, the Hubble, the assassination of Robert Kennedy), etc. But these are the ones I chose.

Peace, love, understanding


















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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SAMMIESMOM13 7/28/2012 10:38AM

    I'm too young for some of these, others I remember but not so distinctly as to "where I was". Ofcourse some - like 9-11 - are forever etched into my memory.
Thanks, this was a really interesting blog.

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CJBAGGINS 7/24/2012 1:26AM

    I vividly remember some of the events that happened when I was old enough to understand. As I was born in '69, many listed were not on my radar, so to speak, lol.

I know exactly where I was when I heard about the Challenger explosion; I was in grade 12, and had just found out which part I would play for the upcoming musical. I was celebrating my birthday as well that day, so I always remember the date!

Desert Storm - I was newly married, and watching it all on our old second-hand tv in our small apartment.

9/11 - at the library with my little kids, went to the grocery store and a woman I knew vaguely told me that World War III had started.

cj

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COACHPENNY 7/20/2012 3:19AM

    The Viet Nam War? My brother is seven years older than me. He graduated HS in 1966. I remember hearing about the war before that but, it wasn't until there was a possibility that he could get drafted and be sent to Vietnam that my eyes were opened. He went away to college but, didn't do that well and had a draft number that would send him to the service sooner than later....instead, he enlisted in the Marine Reserves. He never did get sent to Nam and was medically discharged due to a back injury after several years.

John Glenn in space? I was in kindergarten and we drew pictures of spaceships.

Assassination of President Kennedy? I was in the second grade. We knew it happened. It was like a cloud had descended over us. I went home and my dad was home early both my parents were crying. Watching it all on TV was so very sad. We all cried for his wife and children. Caroline is close to my age so I identified with her the most.

When Dr King was assassinated: I was in Jr High and remember being horrified because we discussed current events in school and of course, Dr. King was the subject of many discussions.

The capture by North Korea of the USS Pueblo: Remember this but, not well.

Walk on the moon? The talk of our school...everywhere

The shooting of the students at Kent State: I was a freshman in HS. We were riveted by these events. I could not believe that this could happen here in the US. I cried every time I watched the news or read about the events.

11 Israeli's killed at the Olympics - same here....TV coverage was non-stop

President Nixon left office: Senior in HS...I was so disillusioned....I NEVER liked NIXON
(Aug. 1974)

Elvis died? I had already decided he was strange and drug addled so while I was sad for the waste of his life...it was a life of excess. (Aug 1977)

US Embassy taken by Iranians: Stunned and as time went by it seemed like it would never end. (Nov. 1979)

John Lennon assassinated: Shocked by hearing the news...I was in my car and heard it on the radio. I called my girlfriend when I got home.

President Reagan shot: Heard it on the news, shocked. (March 1982)

The bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beruit: Heard it on the news scared and shocked. (Oct. 1983)

The Challenger explosion? I was pregnant with my daughter, due in a week. Ordered home to bed rest due to high blood pressure, I watched it happen on TV. I knew it was not good even before they reported the actual tragedy. It was SO emotional.(Jan. 1986)

1st Gulf War - Desert Storm:
(Jan. 1991)Fall of the Soviet Union? (Dec.1991) Both these events were hard to fathom in different ways. I was young mom with a toddler and a kindergartener.

Oklahoma City bombing: Sick and Sad.(Apr. 1995)

OJ found not guilty: I remember thinking it was such a circus and that he'd gotten away with murder. (Oct. 1995)

Princess Di killed:I hoped it was a mistake. Her life was cut short. (Aug 1997)

Shootings at Columbine: I could not believe it was happening. (Apr 1999)

JFK, Jr. killed in plane crash: The Kennedy curse.... I hoped they would find them alive but, it was not meant to be. (July 1999)

Fears about the Y2K bug: We stocked some things but, did not go crazy about it. (Oct. 1999)

The bombing of the Cole: Saw it on the news. (Oct 2000)

The bombing of the twin towers, pentagon, and flight 93 crash): I was driving from one school district office to another for my job. Heard it on the radio. The sky had become eerily quiet...I had never experienced such a quiet. At each office, a TV was on we all sat stunned watching the events unfold. A two hour run took me over four hours stopping to watch more news and talk with other horrified people.(11 Sept 2011)

Columbia explodes over TX: Brought back memories of the Challenger. (Feb. 2003)

US attacks Iraq: I was against this war and very unhappy our country was doing this. (Mar 2003)

Suicide bombers kill and injure over 700 in London: Sick & saddened. (July 2005)

Hurricane Katrina: Horrified and pissed at Bush's inept leadership (Aug 2005)

Haiti earthquake: Sad, sad tragedy. (Jan 2010)

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Watched on TV, so very sad.

Prince William and Kate's wedding: Watched a bit on TV(Apr 2011)

bin Laden Killed: Watched the Prez make the announcement. It was amazing news.(May 2011)


Comment edited on: 7/20/2012 3:23:32 AM

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QUILTINGB52 7/19/2012 3:41PM

    I am about 6 years younger that you....so President Kennedy is the first thing I remember well and somber for even us kids in grade school.

One of the things I remember about 9/11 - that the people in the United States came together, not as blacks or whites - but as Americans!! And every time I drove down the highway there were American flags hang from every bridge. It was sad and uplifting all rolled in together!!

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LIS193 7/19/2012 1:03PM

    Some events from the 70's and everything after 1979.

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SANDYW1945 7/19/2012 12:40PM

    Remember it all...but Vietnam War escaped my radar until it hit me in the face ....right after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964. I was a collage freshman. Not too long after that began to lose friends to the war.

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KARIDIAN1 7/19/2012 10:07AM

    I remember these. I was ion 3rd grade when Kennedy was shot and a teacher came in to the room to tell us. Strange how we can remember things like that, what we were doing at the time.

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MEDDYPEDDY 7/19/2012 5:04AM

    Hmm, I remember where I was when our prime minister Olof Palme was shot, I remember the twin towers and I remember Princess Di car accident - but the rest I will have to seek deep in my memory to remember where I was when I first learned about those events...

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1CRAZYDOG 7/18/2012 11:05PM

  Yes indeed . . . I remember all of these events.

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CHERIRIDDELL 7/18/2012 10:52PM

    I was 3 when Kennedy was shot ,but I remember sitting up watching the Man on the moon with my Grandad in 1969 .I remember friends brothers going to Vietnam and friends fathers .My husband went to the Gulf .

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IDLETYME 7/18/2012 7:17PM

    I remember these. Thank you for bringing them back to my memory! emoticon

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1STATEOFDENIAL 7/18/2012 6:32PM

    I was born in June 1981 so many of these were before I was born or too young to remember. But there's one that you wouldn't count as important but living in MN I do, and I want to share that one with you:
The collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis (August 1st, 2007): I had just gotten home from my last day at a job I quit so I could focus on finding a job in the Minneapolis area. My mother called to tell me. They only knew it was in Mpls, so it took me awhile before I could figure out what they were talking about. Soon after a friend I knew who was travelling through WI back to MN called and as she crossed the St Croix river the call dropped because the cell lines were so bogged down. It took hours online before most of my friends had checked in so we knew people were safe (some had been over the bridge an hour earlier or due to go over soon after). I watched a lot of news coverage about it for days afterwards. A week later I was in the area and drove past - I slowed down because the shock of the empty space was just too much to focus on driving. Less than 2 months later I moved into a Mpls suburb. The bridge collapse is one event anyone who lives around here can't forget. A lot of other bridges around here have had problems since then, but none to the extent of such a massive and important bridge collapsing so quickly.

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GATORJOY 7/18/2012 6:23PM

    Thanks for sharing, I remember many of these vividly. And, like you say, President Kennedy's assassination still remains in my memory as if it were yesterday. Shocking and painful, I was 11. 9/11 is another one that remains in my memory as horrific and painful. On the other hand, landing on the moon, was exciting and wonderful to me. Now, one for you to remember....The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show....you remember? Of course you do ...and you smile when you think about it, don't you? emoticon

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MUSOLF6 7/18/2012 6:20PM

    emoticon

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AAEEFDCA 7/18/2012 4:16PM

    I remember every one of those events some more vividly than others. We were taking a spelling test when JFK was shot, everyone got 100%. A classmate's brother & the dad of a family I baby sat for died in Viet Nam., 9/11 I was walking down the hall at work and saw the second plane hit. I remember a patient in the waiting room said, honey, this is your Pearl Harbor, but when the one hit the Pentagon I lost it since my cousin was stationed there.

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PMFISH 7/18/2012 3:40PM

    Well, I am a bit older than you! The Viet Nam war I was 18 and some of the guys were talking about enlisting. Most of the other events, I remember well. The Challenger exploded we were on the road to go to Disney and saw it happened. Amazing you were on your way to Sarasota when Reagan was shot. I was in Sarasota on a yacht at that time. Makes you wonder how many times we have been in the same place at the same time.

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KASEYCOFF 7/18/2012 1:46PM

    Well, Evvie, you're just that little bit older than I am - I don't remember when I first heard 'Viet Nam,' but I remember history classes about Indochina and the French colonization; the war was just part of my background from early childhood, so I was always aware of it. As for the rest - I was in 4th grade when John Glenn made his orbits, and of course all the subsequent events are very much in my memory.

What a tumultuous history--!
emoticon

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LOSTLIME 7/18/2012 1:30PM

  When Kennedy died, I was in first grade. When Dr. King was assassinated
I was in school. The incident at Kent state, I was babysitting my cousins.
I was watching the olympics when the Israel's were killed. When Nixon left office I was at home. I was pissed off that he became paranoid at the end.
I was newly married when Elvis died. When Princess Di died, I was driving
home from dropping my husband off at work. Most of the other times, I was either watching the news or tv when the incidents were taking place.

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PENNYPACKER3 7/18/2012 12:41PM

    I remeber the pricess dead, stayed up all night/ealry morning watching it on TV, 9/11 I was doing the Elliptical watching QVC selling southwestern jewerly on a tuesday morning, Kennedy I was a kid, remeber the train funeral procession, viet nam had a walk out/sit down protest in 8th grade,
lennon me and ex mourned and listened to his music, hurricane katrina the boss invited a German Shepherd Dog friend in LA to come stay,
landing on the moon watched on TV,

how about these, When Ruffian broke down in the illfated match race with Foolish Pleasure, I was 14, watching it on TV at home, I cried. Secretariat winng the Belmont Stakes by 31 lenghts. Sat in AWE watching it on TV at home. it still gets me to see it repeated.
Zenyatta winning the Breeders Cup Classic, I danced and hollared, that was great.

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