Where were you on the morning of Feb. 20, 1962? I know there are many here who where just a twinkle in their dad's eye but I think many of us were glued to a radio that morning. I was sitting on the cold tile floor of the girls dressing room during the middle of gym class period listening to the radio broadcast of the launch and subsequent orbits of the earth by John Glenn. I knew little about what it all involved, I was a sophomore in high school and had a lot of what I considered more important things on my mind at the time. Not being able to even imagine what was going on or what had gone on behind the scenes to make that event happen and be successful I was a lot more scared than excited. I had seen the films of explosions on the launch pads of the rockets before that one and besides, he and I shared the same last name so he might be a distant relative, I had to worry about him. And when he passed on Dec 8 it did feel like a family member was gone. He was the last of the Mercury Seven astronauts. His passing certainly did close an era.
I was in biology class, but our teacher turned on her radio and let us hear about the launch and orbits. John Glenn gave inspiration in so many ways to so many people--not just being an astronaut, but being a good and honorable human being.
Strangely enough I was in biology class too Jane. The head teacher came in to tell us all about it. I don't think any of my classmates were sure if it was really true or not. By the next day we were all abuzz about the launch though and couldn't stop talking about it.
I was working on the pediatric unit and everyone was listening on the radio when he was launched. What a lot of changes since then.
