It was the 25th launch of the space shuttle mission.

I had forgotten that.

I haven't forgotten, however, where I was that traumatic day for the USA.

Come in, see the video, and let me tell you how Country Music has saluted those 7 heroes.

(FILE PHOTO) Space Shuttle Challenger Explodes
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the Challenger Crew:

Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik

Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair

On January 28th 1986, I was 18. At home with Mom. I was at the kitchen table, Mom on the couch. My brother was at school.  This would be the 25th launch of the space shuttle program; the schoolteacher was on board; this was a big mission for Challenger. Hence, it was all over the TV.

73 seconds later, it really was, all over.

"What just happened", Mom said. She kept saying it- "DAVE, WHAT just happened??"

I can still hear the horror in her voice.

Yeah. It does still freak me out. I don't know about you.

The nation would mourn; the nation would move on. On September 29th in 1988, Discovery relaunched the space shuttle program- while relaunching America's dreams:video platform video management video solutions video player

More chills.

Country Music has always had a way of taking you back in time and reliving key moments of your life- Mark Wills' biggest hit does just that- Elvis, Rubik's Cube and.. The Challenger Explosion are archived forever in "Nineteen Something":

May God Bless those seven heroes..and may we always look for the chances to expand our horizons.

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