Remembering the Heroes of the Space Shuttle Challenger 25 Years Later

Remembering the Heroes of the Space Shuttle Challenger 25 Years Later

Twenty five years ago today, January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight and devastated a nation. America watched in horror as many school children watched the disaster live on TV in classrooms across the country as Christa McAuliffe was the first teacher in space. We remember the American heroes of the Space Shuttle Challenger, Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.

More video from CNN.

Watch President Ronald Reagan’s historic speech to a mourning United States that will forever be remembered for the proud and calming words of our Commander in Chief … ” We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.”

Sadly I remember this event like it was yesterday as one of the heroes that perished lived not too far away. Do you remember where you were? I can also remember President Reagan comforting a nation like only he could with heartfelt words that do not exist today.