A Huge Nerd
Lee-Hair-Oh
It was 30 years ago today that we lost the Space Shuttle Challenger. 30 years. This was an event that has stayed with me since I saw it happen on live television. I suppose every generation can call on historical events which played such a strong role in their memory. For me, it was the utter shock of the tragedy, followed later that night by an uplifting reminder from a great American leader. The reminder that great achievement comes at great risk, and the best heroes take the risk because it is their choice, not their duty.
The iconic line that Reagan uttered at the end of his address came from a poem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Magee wrote the poem only a few months before his own death, which came while flying a training mission on December 11th, 1941. Magee was 19 years old.
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
The iconic line that Reagan uttered at the end of his address came from a poem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Magee wrote the poem only a few months before his own death, which came while flying a training mission on December 11th, 1941. Magee was 19 years old.
"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
Last edited:
