The day our baby came home!

Sgt. Major joined our family Aug. 7, 2004. We took some photos that day that I recently found.
Here he is with his new mommy ... me!
Here he gives his new daddy kisses!
He was really tiny whe we first got him, 22 pounds when we took him to the vet the next week. They though he was a little underfed for his size, but he quickly made up for that.

Friendship meets Community Service; part 1

I think that volunteering is very important and on many military installations there are a variety of organizations that you can help through. Recently I have had the opportunity to profile many of the programs on post including the Enlisted Spouses' Club and Officer's Spouses Club (which I am a member of).
In the Aug. 19 edition of the Guardian, I wrote a feature on the Enlisted Spouses' Club.
If you are looking for a place to meet new people and get out into the community, this might be the place for you.

-- Published Article (8.19.05 edition) --

“Where can I go to meet people, volunteer throughout the community, find information regarding the installation and express myself?”
This question may be one that many spouses have asked at one time or another, whether they have just arrived at Fort Polk or have been a resident for a while.
For the spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers, the Fort Polk Enlisted Spouses’ Club provides a place where spouses can find the answer to this question and more.
For Michelle Hunt, ESC vice president, the organization has given her a place to feel a part of something bigger, she said.
The group is currently seeking to recruit new members as PCS moves have left the club’s membership low.
Hunt came to Fort Polk when her husband was assigned to 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. She said when she married her husband in August, 2004, there was a lot of information that she needed but didn’t know where to go.
“My first week here, I went to newcomer’s orientation with my husband, and (members of) the Enlisted Spouses Club (welcomed) me and invited me to the next meeting,” Hunt said.
She said she was intrigued by what she had heard from them at the orientation and decided to go to the meeting.
”I went to the meeting and joined then and there. It just seemed real fun,” she added.
Hunt said once she joined the organization she realized its benefits, adding that other members helped her find information regarding post activities and military life in general.
“It goes so much further than the family readiness groups,” Hunt said, adding that being a member has helped her stay busy and keeps her from worrying about her husband’s upcoming deployment.
“This will be my first time (dealing with a) deployment and being involved keeps me going,” she said. She adds that the members of the organization provide support to each other because they share common concerns.
“It’s a home away from home,” she said.
Hunt added that the variety of activities gives members a chamce to “just have fun.”
She said activities such as the upcoming 2006 Santa’s Castle where the organization helps families during the holiday season offer members a chance to give back to the community.
Fellow member, Myra Revelle agreed.
Revelle has been an active member of Fort Polk’s ESC for 25 years.
“I really enjoy working with the elderly. When the nursing home (activity) came that was my thing,” she said, adding that she has been the nursing home chairperson for 23 years.
ESC members who volunteer in the nursing home program take cakes and cookies to the residents of Rosepine Retirement and Rehabilitation Center and Revelle said that over the years she has formed friendships with many of the residents there.
Revelle said she joined the ESC in order to meet people and get involved in activities, and that is what she did.
She added that since she has been a member, the organization has given money back to the community such as helping the battered women’s shelter and provides programs to the public that include community outreach, safety awareness and volunteers.
“I get a lot out of (membership). I get to do new things and meet new people,” Revelle said.
“As for those who say there is nothing to do here ... sure if you don’t get out there, you will not find anything to do.”
“(Spouses ) who join will have fun. Come see what we do. There are educational programs and trips,” she added.
Revelle said this past Christmas the ESC had enough money to bring the fourth graders from South Polk Elementary to the Rosepine Retirement and Rehabilitation Center to sing for the residents. She added that both the residents of the center, ESC volunteers and the children enjoyed the activity.
“New spouses bring new ideas for activities and fund-raisers. We don’t have to do the same things, we welcome any idea,” Revelle said.
Michelle Lantz, president of the ESC, said that the organization offers spouses the chance to be themselves and make new friends while taking an active role in the community.
She added that it is a place where rank does not matter and spouses interact based on common interests.
“It is open to any enlisted spouse, active duty or retired, from E1-E9,” she said. “The organization gives back to the local community and spouses participate in the activities they enjoy. Activites include social events, fund-raisers, the Angel Tree, where those in the community can sponsor a needy child at Fort Polk for Christmas and Santa’s Castle, where the ESC accepts monetary and gift donations year-round to provide gifts for needy children during the holiday season.
Lantz advises new spouses who may not understand military life to “get involved and get out of your house. Not only will you make new friendships but you also gain volunteer experience and job skills while learning from other spouses.”
Lantz said that Fort Polk’s ESC has been helping spouses for more than 30 years. Many members have come and gone, but the friendships have endured.
This is Lantz’s second time at Fort Polk. She was a member of the ESC both times. She added that before returning to Fort Polk, she was not at a location that offered an organization like the ESC and she missed the camaraderie.
“You see a lot of mentoring (in the organization),” Lantz said. “We are always looking for new members and new ideas.”
The ESC joined with the Officers’ Spouses’ Club Wednesday to host the annual Super Sign-up, where members from both organizations participated in a membership drive.
Lantz said the ESC welcomed 30 new members at the Super sign-up but added that those interested can sign up throughout the year.

-- End Article --

Come back to visit. This Friday I will have an article featuring the Officers' Spouses Club and further into September I will talk to the Red Cross organization here at Fort Polk about what volunteer opportunities they have.

Hurricane Update: No news

We haven't gotten much rain or wind here, but my husband's unit was told that they may be mobilized to help, but no word to "move out" yet.
My mom's in a panic because my brother lives just 30 north of New Orleans and we can't get his wife or daughters on the phone. He was called to work on Sunday (he's a medic with Acadian ambulance) and haven't heard from him either.
His wife and daughters were invited to come to our house to wait it out, but my oldest niece was driving in from college
(same area) with her boyfriend to help board the house, according to my dad.
I'm sure they are alright since their area was not evacuated, but I do hope they had stocked up on food and stuff, because the store will be hit pretty hard now.
T-mobile has set up multiple internet sites for families to email loved ones, so I check mine often.
All we can do now is wait and pray.
Mark, Christie and girls, if you get a chance to get on the internet email mom, she is really worried and will call the rest of us!

Hurricane Update: Good news!

Good news! My brother was able to get through on the phones to his mother-in-law (lives in the same area), who relayed to message to my mom, so my news is third hand.
My brother has no idea when he will be home because of the extensive rescue efforts. His wife is going to her parent's house but there is still no electricity so things are getting pretty hot there. Mom is on her way there to pick up the girls, and take them back to her house. She said the schools said it was o.k. for them to temporarily attend the schools in Houston until they return home.
Mom said they didn't say anything about flooding just a hole in the house, but no word on how small or large or even where. It'll probably be a while before electricity returns and they are able to clean up debris.
I'll keep posting updates on here until Mark and his family are back in their home.

A student, yet again

Fort Polk Education Center offers a variety of college program though various colleges and for those who don't know yet, I decided to work on my masters. I am currently enrolled in the Louisiana State University master's of liberal arts-military history concentration.
We this weekend I had my first class for my masters and I have to admit it was really fun to be back in school again. I also sent information to another lieutenant's wife, who was still in her home state, because she had wanted to see what options there were for her as well once she got here. Ashley and her husband are also expecting their first child, so she wanted something that would not take away from caring for the baby. Overall, we were both looking for something that would help us keep busy while our husbands, who are in the same battalion, are deployed.
The first class is kind of a introduction to the military, more so it touches on some of the first military battles and lessons learned as well as how they influence later conflicts.
Keep coming back and I'll let you know how the quest for knowledge goes.

Ain't love grand!!

My husband had his wisdom teeth pulled out today and I feel so bad for him.
I came into work at noon so I could be with him at the dentist. He was pretty nervous about it, but I think it is more of the fact that he had never had any major dental or even medical stuff done versus someone who has had it since childhood.
He's a pretty strong guy, very independent and I think the thought of being "helpless and in pain" was not something he wanted to deal with.
It was only an hour-long procedure though and I was able to pick up his meds while he was in surgery, so it went pretty fast. He was pretty comical though.
The dental assistant told him no carbonated/caffeinated drinks or alcohol for a week. He was still pretty out of it and tried to remind her Labor Day was coming up, but she still said "no", it was funny to see him so bummed ... and the thing is that he really doesn't drink often, because he knows he can get called in any time, but we were think of inviting some friends over to barbecue.
On the ride home he kept laughing to himself and talking, but it was pretty hard to distinguish what he was saying. He was very hungry since he couldn't eat before the procedure so he kept asking if he could eat.
After taking the pain meds he kept saying he wanted to go to work which was not really possible in his condition. After a very long speech about how even though he was injured, he had a responsibility, I took him the the FTP where the other officers were so he could pass along his computer "stick" so they would have whatever information it was he thought they needed.
On the way home he wanted to stop by clothing and sales to buy a new uniform so he could have the patches put on it. I didn't think it was a good idea, but we eventually went.
Once inside we got the uniform and socks he needed but when we went to get the patches and flag he needed the medicine kicked in and he lost his energy really fast.
So he went to the car after making me say I would get the rest of what he needed.
One of the Soldiers in the battalion, stopped me in line and asked what did I do to him (which is pretty funny if you knew that I was about 5-feet talk and he is nearly 6.
After assuring me that he had made it to the car, I finished my purchase and headed to the car, where he readily admitted that the meds had kicked his butt.
After getting him back home and on the sofa in the recliner, he fell asleep, which is where he was when I left for work.
I called a few hours later and he said that he had regained the feeling in his mouth and jaw and was in quite some pain. I told him it was time to take some more medicine anyway and promised to get some ice cream, Jell-O and pudding on the way home.
Ain't love grand!!

What's for dinner?

Sgt. Major often "watches" to make sure no food falls on the floor and gets wasted, although he knows he is not allowed to eat "people food" ... not that telling him "no" will stop him. He is quite fast actually and can pull food of the counter if you are not watching. his 'grandpa' like to feed him fritos when we visit, so we can no longer have them in the house because he learned to open the pantry door. Sometimes he is too smart for his own good.

Hurricane Katrina

I grew up in Louisiana, so for me hurricanes are not that much to get worked up over, but now that we live so far from my bother and "his girls", Christie (wife), Rita, Stephanie, Victoria and Tami (daughters), I get a little worried during the storm season.
My brother is a medic and during these times he is often called to work, leaving the girls to take care of themselves. Now I am all for "girl power" but I still worry.
I talked to my brother yesterday, and as expected, he was called into work. The girls are at the age where they know the severity of something like this so I know they must be at least a little scared. Yesterday was also Victoria's 12th birthday and she joked about having a "hurricane" party.
I was sure they would be safe, because otherwise my brother would have sent them here, where we are at the extreme west part of Louisana, but on the news it looks really bad.
Now we just sit back and play the "have you heard?" game, where we call other family members asking if they have heard anything.
My mom and step-father are returning from a trip out of the country and since they are landing in Houston, I am worried that the storm could delay their flight for a while.
We went through this a lot as children growing north of New Orleans, but I guess becasue we didn't have a television, we really didn't know how bad it was.
I guess there is nothing we can do now, except sit and wait.

His military wife

I found this poem when I was playing on the computer the other day. I was looking for poems about the military. I really liked it so I wanted to share.
A military wife is mostly girl. But there are times, such as when her husband is away and she is mowing the lawn or fixing a youngster's bike, that she begins to suspect she is also boy. She usually comes in three sizes: petite, plump and pregnant. During the early years of her marriage it is often hard to determine which size is her normal one. She has babies all over the world and measures time in terms of places as other women do in years. "It was in England that the children had the chicken pox...In was in Texas, Paul was promoted..."
At least one of her babies was born or a transfer was accomplished while she was alone. This causes her to suspect a secret pact between her husband and the military providing for a man to be overseas or on temporary duty at times such as these.
A military wife is international. She may be a Kansas farm girl, a French mademoiselle, a Japanese doll, or a German fraulein. When discussing service problems, they all speak the same language. She can be a great actress. To heartbroken children at transfer time, she gives an Academy Award performance: "New Mexico is going to be such fun! I hear they have Indian reservations...and tarantulas...and rattlesnakes." But her heart is breaking with theirs. She wonders if this is worth the sacrifice.
An ideal military wife has the patience of an angel, the flexibility of putty, the wisdom of a scholar and
the stamina of a horse. If she dislikes money, it helps. She is sentimental, carrying her memories with her in an old footlocker.
One might say she is a bigamist, sharing her husband with a demanding entity called "duty." When duty calls, she becomes No. 2 wife. Until she accepts this fact, her life can be miserable. She is above all a woman who married a man who offered her the permanency of a gypsy, the miseries of loneliness, the frustration of conformity and the security of love.
Sitting among her packing boxes with squabbling children nearby, she is sometimes willing to chuck it all in until she hears the firm step and cheerful voice of the lug who gave her all this.
Then she is happy to be...his military wife

For more visit the Military Support Group:Loving You in the sidebar.

American Flag/Army Truck

I attended a change of command ceremony at work today, and usually the photos at these things are all the same. However, I was covering the ceremony for the 21st Air Support Operations Squadron, one of the Air Force units here and I took this photo.
It was a really great set up. This was the incoming commander's vehicle. Most of the units here display a variety of things at these ceremonies, but for some reason I really liked this one. To the right was the outgoing commanders vehicle in the same way, but without the flag. It's not something we would use in the paper (we usually use a photo of the incoming commander), so I thought I'd put it here.

Loveable face

How can you tell this face "no". I think his knows he's cute, because he uses the "sad eyes" look a lot when he wants something, especially "people food". He recently had surgery for an in-turned eyelid and his allergies have gotten worst the past few days. He likes taking medicine though because it means TREATS.

Mommy's little helper

Sometimes Sgt. Major gets in the mood to be helpful. Cleaning dishes is his favorite task.

Military wife, unique life: part 2

Once we arrived at Fort Polk, it took a few weeks, but we got into the swing of things.
The staff in the Public Affairs Office was very helpful in getting us information and working my schedule around getting moved in.
We stayed in guest housing for about three weeks before we got a house. Once we got a house assigned to us, George went back to Houston to get the rest of our things while I stayed behind to work.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. It was suppose to be a quick, easy trip. He was happy because he would have a few days to spend time with his father and best friend, Gordon, whom he hadn't seen in a while. He had come to Fort Polk straight from Fort Benning, Ga., so he hadn't had time to visit his family.
I was working at my desk when he called. He asked how things we going then dropped the bombshell.
He said he and Gordon were on their way to play a round of golf in his truck when a lady ran through either a red light or stop sign and ran into the driver side of his truck, barely missing the driver side door.
As I sat there while he described what had happened and explaining that other motorists had chased the driver down after she attempted to leave, I refused to believe it.
Although he and Gorgon were more angry than hurt, it still scared me.
After I got off the phone, my editor walked into my office, I guess I looked upset because she asked me what was wrong and I began to cry as I repeated the story.
I remember thinking afterwards, "What am I going to be like when he is deployed and calls with stories of being under fire and narrowly missing IED (improvised exploding devices)?"
He returned home the next day with a rental truck, because his had to be put in the shop.
After seeing for my self that he was fine, I put it behind me as I began unpacking and preparing our new home, but it was definitely an awakening. You never think anything could happen to the people close to you, until it does.
Over the next few weeks we began settling into our new home, meeting neighbors and learning our way around post. We slowly purchased needed furniture and other things of that nature. Life soon began to take on a welcomed "normality", then we decided to get a puppy ...

Sgt. Major: On the fence

Front
and
Back




Since we live on a military installation, many families feel comfortable letting their kids go from house to house, because the neighborhood (2 streets each that form a 'T') are pretty much a tight-knit community.
Sgt. Major likes to watch the kids from our backyard, but even as a puppy was too scared to go out of our eyesight because he was terrorized by one child in the neighborhood. They have since moved, but he still only plays with the two little girls next door and the little boy who lives on the other side of them.
Since we live on the corner of our neighborhood, the mailboxes and school bus shelter are at the end of our backyard (the houses face inward and backyards face main roadway).

Christmas starts early

Christmas is a big thing for me.
Growing up with 12 siblings, things we always hectic and there wasn't much time for putting up Christmas trees. We didn't do the whole "Santa" thing either as I recall, mostly we would all draw names and everyone got one present.
Anyway, I decided when I got my own house, I would "do it big."
In college, my friend Amy and I decided to start make our ornmaments one year and it became a bit of a tradition for me. Amy and I made beautiful ornmaments that year (she made blue, white and silver and mine were red, white and gold).
After graduation she stayed near her family and I moved her to Fort Polk, but each year that followed I'd make more ornaments for each of us.
I got a bit anxious this year, starting last weekend, well officially. A few weeks back I "accidentally" created some beautiful ornaments while my husband was away training and I decided to use those for this year's ornament. Actually I no longer make just one set, I usually "discover" a few variations and make about eight of each and also do an ornament exchange with some other crafters, so I also cross stitch some.
I am also hoping this year to have a booth at the craft fair the Officer's Spouses' Club hosts each year here, so that gives me plenty of crafting to do.
My husband grumbles a lot to our friends when they come over and we start talking about crafts, but he's really a softy and doesn't complain much any other time unless I need him to help when he's trying to do something else.
Our puppy is quite intriqued by my crafting supplies and unfortunately has learned to open the door to the closet where everything is kept. I sometimes find him there on the floor of the closet with fabric, embroidery floss and other items cast about with this look of complete innocence on his face. It really is hard to be mad when he gets that look.
Needless to say I am excited about Christmas this year. Last year we had just gotten Sgt. Major and didn't want to risk him pulling the tree down when we were at work, but this year we'll have to figure something out.
I'll keep you posted and maybe add a few pictures of my many projects as I count down to the holiday season.

My puppy

This is my puppy's latest photo. I found some of the photos we took when we first took him home Aug. 7, 2004, and he looks so much bigger, but I guess going from 22 pounds to 57 pounds is hard to hide.
He still thinks he is a lap dog, and crawls into mine everytime I sit on the sofa. He's gotten to the point where is is out of the puppy stage for the most part, but he still has a lot of energy.

Military wife, unique life: part 1

On May 24, 2004, I entered a life where many have been before and many will follow, but those on the outside will not understand ... I became a military spouse.
For me I entered with my eyes open. My husband had complete the Army ROTC program at the college where we met and had received his commission.
My first taste of the seperations we would have to face was when he left for the Officers' Basic Course. We were only a few states apart and I had stayed in Houston where both of our families lived, but I was still anxious to get his calls. We were seperated for nearly 10 months and we would try to do all the things we missed doing together like going to the movies or to a nice dinner whenever I could visit (which was about every three months).
Getting to Fort Polk I though would be a relief, but it was just ... different.
I was suddenly thown into a military community filled with acronyms, titles and customs I did not understand.
APFT, JRTC, BDU, LBE, JAG ... many of the conversations here were filled with jargon and abbreivations that sent my head spinning.
I already had a job at the post newspaper waiting when we arrived, so I was thrown into it head first. My first day at work, May 24, 2004, I had to cover a luncheon with Brig. Gen. Michael Barbero, commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, and other local officials from the neighboring towns.
I felt like I was back in my first journalism class as I interviewed him.
At one point in the luncheon we were individually asked "What significance does today have for you?" It was asked in reference to the permit that was being signed at the luncheon for the partnership between Fort Polk and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
When the question came to me and I explained that it was my first day at Fort Polk, but that it meant that my husband whom I married later that day and I would end a 9-plus month seperation.
A few months later when I would again talk to the general, he asked me how I like being married into the military and explained to his wife who was with him of our meeting that first day.
For him it may have just been a question in passing, but for me it meant that I was not invisible ... for here was a general who had the responsibilty of running an installation and training center asking me about settling in to my new life.
After the luncheon, I return to the office, where my editor released me for the rest of the day so my husband and I could go get married.
The wedding itself is a whole other story, but come back ... you'll find it amusing how I was married by a barefoot justice of the peace with goats in the neighbor's yard.

My great love

Hope you weren't expecting some great love story about my husband or some other lost love. Although I adore my husband to no end, anyone who knows me also knows that my puppy, an English Bulldog named Sgt. Major, is the center of my world. In fact, shortly after we got him, I wrote a commentary for the military publication I work for regarding finding a pet that was right for us.




-- Published Commentary (9.17.04 edition) --

My husband and I recently added a new member to our family. We brought home the cutest 6-month-old English bulldog and promptly named him Sgt. Major.
Although we fell in love with him at first sight, the decision to get a pet was not made in haste.
Shortly after arriving to Fort Polk, at the end of May, my husband expressed an interest in getting a pet. I was a little apprehensive since I had very little experience as a pet owner, but he had grown up with dogs and assured me I would enjoy it.
Our first hurdle was to find a pet we could agree on.
My husband said he wanted a rottweiler like he had during childhood, but I was worried a dog that large would be hard for me to handle, as I'm only 5-feet tall. I suggested we look into getting a smaller dog since I would be the sole caretaker when my husband deploys.
Our next decision was what breed to get, so we made a list of considerations. We wanted a dog that would not need constant attention, as we both work; had an easy temperament, because there are so many children in our neighborhood; and was "travel-friendly," since we often drive to Houston to visit our families.
My husband wanted a "house dog," and I was worried about the Louisiana heat. We spent time researching different breeds because we wanted to get a dog that fit us. Since my husband is in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, we had to consider the possibility of an upcoming move.
Once tentatively deciding on an English Bulldog, we did more research, talked to breeders, veterinarians and animal shelters to make sure that we could properly care for this breed.
We asked questions regarding the breed's health issues, and what to expect from it as a puppy and full grown dog. We also inquired about recommended veterinary needs, exercise and feeding.
We visited the Fort Polk Veterinary Treatment Facility to gather information about installation requirements and talked to friends about their local veterinarians.
We wanted a puppy with the classic bulldog look and discussed what our budget was for purchasing one. We had to take into consideration the cost of supplies such as kennel, food and toys since it was our first pet.
Then we started looking for a dog. We visited shelters, talked to breeders and called pet stores. We so so many puppies in those few weeks, but when I saw Sgt. Major, I knew he was the one.
I have to admit, when that shy little puppy licked my fingers I was hooked. We took him home that day and haven't regretted it.
We still have to deal with training and teething, but he is no longer shy. In fact, he has become very adventurous as long as he can see either my husband or me.
He has claimed his spot on the sofa and often redecorates his kennel with our towels and rugs, but we knew to expect that and he is learning his boundaries.
He has even learned who to go to when he wants to wrestle and who will scratch his belly when he is sleepy.
Although it may have taken us a while to get him, we agree that the time we took to research our options was worth it because we found a pet that fits us perfectly.
We do occasionally get angry with him, but we knew what we signed up for and the joy and laughter that he brings is well worth it.
We are still trying to get him to understand that he is not the one in charge, but that may be a losing battle.

For updates about our feisty puppy, keep checking in ... I'll even have more photos.

Discovery's return to space

“One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” The words of astronaut Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon’s surface July 20, 1969, are a part of the history of space exploration.
Even those of us who were not alive at the time recognize the words and photographs of this defining moment.
Historical moments are still being made in space exploration and people young and old share stories about “where they were” during these defining moments.
As a child I was in awe of space travel and the life of astronauts. My uncle worked for National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, where my brother and I would often visit. As children we explored Space Center Houston, eating lunch in the shadows of rockets at Rocket Park and learning hand-on about the world of space exploration.
The walls in my room were covered with photographs of space travel images taken during these flights. Patches and other memorabilia that my uncle sent were opened with reverence and proudly shown to friends.
For me space was a world of endless possibilities, limited only by the imagination.
The reality of the dangers of this life was discovered early in my childhood as I watched the launch tragedy of the Challenger unfold.
The launch was initially scheduled for Jan. 22, 1986, my eighth birthday. For me it was the greatest birthday present. Even after delays forced rescheduling of the launch, I could not be deterred from my delight.
The flight was to be a first in the educational world. Sharon Christa McAuliffe would be the first teacher to fly in space as part of the new Teacher in Space Program and my second grade class was given permission to watch the launch.
Jan. 28, 1986, was an exciting day for me. After settling on the floor, I watched in amazement as the shuttle launched, leaving a fiery trail left in its wake. I unaware of the danger involved. I continued to watch as 73 seconds into flight the shuttled exploded.
The shuttles’ demise was unimaginable to me, my classmates and teachers. Once aware of the problem, the teachers quickly sent us back to the classroom amid unanswered questions and confusion.
Later that day President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation saying, “Today is a day for mourning and remembering ... the Challenger Seven were aware of the dangers and overcame them and did their job brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes."
The space program had suffered a tragic loss, but was determined to continue in the memory of the Challenger Seven.
Through the next several days I listen to hushed conversations as those around me and others struggled to come to terms with what had happened.
Thirty-two months later on Sept. 29, 1988, the space shuttle Discovery launched, as the first shuttle mission after the Challenger explosion. The five-person crew successfully deployed a satellite and performed a variety experiments before returning home Oct. 3.
Over the next few years, I breathed a sigh of relief as various missions launched, fearing a repeat of the Challenger’s fate. Once the launch was a complete, I felt the danger was over.
But again I would be awakened to the dangerous nature of space exploration as another tragedy struck the aeronautics community Feb. 1, 2003.
Space shuttle Columbia launched its 28th flight Jan. 16, 2003, with a seven member crew; Rick Husband, commander, Willie McCool, pilot, Mike Anderson, payload commander, Ilan Ramon, payload specialist and representative of the the Israeli Space Agency and mission specialists Dave Brown, Laurel Clark and Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman in space.
Once again I was struck with childlike fascination as the crew prepared for launch. As an adult, I understood the complexities of the mission and space travel, which only fed my scientific interests.
The crew endured 16 days of round-the-clock research as they worked in two shifts. As they prepared to return home, there was no sign of the impending tragedy.
As the shuttle reentered the atmosphere after the 16-day scientific mission, NASA lost radio contact at about 9 a.m. Eastern standard time, minutes before the expected 9:16 a.m. landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Video footage would later reveal the crew’s final moments as the Columbia broke apart in flames. The crew was merely 16 minutes from landing.
As I watched countless news reports of debris spread through New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana, I was overwhelmed with loss.
The impact was heavy. At the time I was living 30 miles away from the space center in Houston, and minutes away from the homes of many crew members. The grief felt by the community was overpowering. The Johnson Space Center had always been a pillar of pride for the community in every aspect. Even the city’s sports teams called upon the space center’s reputation for names such as Astros, Rockets, Comets and others.
The city joined the nation in mourning the loss of these brave men and women.
Despite the loss, NASA was determined to go on, adding the memory of the Columbia Seven to its list.
The space shuttle Discovery was again called upon to help NASA and America in their desire to “return to flight.”
On July 13, two years, five months and 12 days after the Columbia loss, NASA again prepared to launch the first space shuttle since a tragedy, but faced delays.
Two and a half hours before liftoff, a pre launch test showed that one of Discovery’s four sensors in its hydrogen fuel tank was not working, so the launch was delayed.
After 12 days of troubleshooting, officials said they were ready for launch, even though the problem had not been figured out. They deemed that the other three sensors could compensate if it failed again.
July 26, at 10:39 a.m. Eastern standard time, space shuttle Discovery launched on a 12-day mission.
I watched in the early morning hours from the comforts of my living room as Commander Eileen Collins boarded with a wave of confidence.
I watched as the astronauts, wearing the familiar orange flight suits were strapped in for what I can only imagine is the ride of a lifetime.
Japanese Astronaut Soichi Noguchi found humor in the event as he held up a “get out of quarantine free” sign designed to look like a card from the game monopoly with the back side reading “out to launch.”
Over the next two weeks, I checked NASA’s web site frequently and rushed home from work to catch the latest updates on the news.
Unlike times before Columbia’s loss, my worries about the crews’ safety did not subside until their feet once again touch the ground.
I watched as video clips showed debris falling from the fuel tank, praying that it would not result in a tragedy for the crew.
I felt like a kid again as I watched the Discovery crew inspect the exterior of the shuttle once in space and Robinson’s work as he plucked pieces of filler material from between tiles on the craft.
I envied the crew as I watched footage and read reports of the three space walks.
After brief delays for the return flight, I watched with excitement and a little fear as the shuttle transformed from a while ball bouncing across the dark sky into the familiar shuttle shape Tuesday. I listened as the shuttle crew and NASA’s Mission Control talked to each other calling out gauge readings for speed and distance.
As I watched the amazing footage of Discovery’s nose dive descent towards Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., I wondered why something like this was taken for granted before the Columbia tragedy.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the 16-minute mark came and went, recalling how close the Columbia crew was to home.
I could hardly contain my excitement as the shuttle touch down on the runway at 8:11 a.m. I still found it hard to believe the crew was safe as I heard mission control say, “Discovery is home.”
As with the Challenger, it is NASA’s space shuttle Discovery which carried the burden of bring a sense of restored hope in the aftermath of a tragedy. Once again, shuttle and crew came through.
No matter how many safe voyages are made there will always be the fear of tragedy, but it is important to remember those lives lost and the cause they believed in.
The space program has been a large part of the history of America. Despite the tragedies, I think the space program has had a positive impact on the nation.
I smile as I think of today’s children gathered around to watch another remarkable achievement by the space program.