Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 19

i Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon Section Sunday, February 9, 1986 Ideas Opinion; 2, 3C. Books; 5C. Cowan, movies; 6C. i) 1 fl I I 1 I li I A Statesman-Journal i The More readers Steve Tomminger paid tribute to Challenger's seven-person crew with seven candles lighted in the front window of his home in Mount Angel. Ihisiin) ft star Readers write to show loss Grandmother chose time to die with another teacher Challenger Seven It clearly struck a responsive chord in the hearts and minds of many people.

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded on Jan. 28, the sudden loss of the seven crew members stunned and saddened millions of people across the nation. After the initial shock wore off, many found symbolic ways to honor the space explorers. Steve Tomminger of Mount Angel lighted seven candles one for each crew member and placed them in a front window in his home. "Just watching it, it hit me and I wanted to do something that showed we cared," he said.

Others communicated their thoughts and emotions in writing. In the wake of the Challenger disaster, the Statesman-Journal invited people to share their written responses to the tragedy with the newspaper's readers. During a four-day period, the newspaper received 101 poems and essays from people in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Some of the messages are published here and on Page 4C. All will be on display beginning Monday at Lancaster Mall.

The poems and essays stand as a testament to the way people of all ages were deeply moved by the tragedy. From young schoolchildren who wept at the death of teacher-astronaut Crista McAuliffe to a woman who mourned the loss of her 99-year-old grandmother as well as the Challenger crew on that same Tuesday they show that the tragedy of Jan. 28, 1986 will long be remembered. By Carolyn Speerstra Harcourt Salem My grandmother, Frances Cole Speerstra, died Tuesday morning in Salem. Her death was simultaneous with seven other deaths that were instantly more famous.

In those few dark moments around 9 o'clock in the morning, as Americans were gripped in a wave of horror and disbelief, I felt a special kind of loss that elevated itself beyond the grief of the nation. My loss emotions were embellished with resentment a bit of "how could she?" I thought she would always be here. She always had been. Ga-ga was born 22 years after the Civil War ended and Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. She was 9 years old when Marconi invented the wireless, a teenager when Henry Ford introduced the horseless carriage, and a woman of 40 when Lindbergh made the first trans-Atlantic flight.

When Ga-ga was 53, her daughter Ellen was teaching school, her eldest son Gerald was serving in World War II, and her youngest son Sam was beginning his law career. Ga-ga was 57 when I let out my first of many screams, and she was 76 when my son her first greatgrandchild came into the world. She was 82 when man took his first steps on the surface of the moon, and she was 99 when she died alongside a moment in time shared with the Challenger crew. THE 10 I BD share their thoughts; Page 4C. i Win BE photo by David Nuss Seven Alone By David Greer Salem Death calls on us in many different ways and on that day in January, it came in the most tragic way.

The world was silent, but it would not remain that way, for death had come on this dreadful day. Seven people are no longer here. How were they to know this was the year? There is sadness and sorrow for all who died and their families who watched by their side. If there is one thing in the past I could change, I pray it would be that deadly blast that happened on that day. My memory and love will never fade away, as I pray to God for some other way.

I know they didn't know what lay in store that day, that God would take them home to stay. There is one thing I must say to them before I go, their memory will live forever in everyone's heart and soul. We will never forget them. Seven Moons By Carmel Hanes Salem Individual in essence linked by a common bond, a dream fueled by a Nation's hopes propelled by a people's unquenchable thirst clothed in courage and curiosity they burst forth reaching for distant stars. But in a moment's tragic glory against an azure sky they embraced those stars and became them leaving aching, empty souls beneath collective pride.

In sorrow, accusing fingers point' seeking comfort in finding blame but each heart knows within itself that their journey and their fate are ours to mourn and ours to cherish their dream, their lives were all of ours and they will light the heavens in the guise of distant moons which beckon those left behind and gently inspire and remind us of our unalterable course to join them. No waste of life By Tiffany Farley 6th grader Sumpter School Not for a minute do I think that the seven astronauts wasted their IKes by going up in the space shuttle Thev were doing what they wanted to do Ingoing to space, and thev knew the risk they were taking. I think it's great to be able to go beyond the hmits of what most don't get a chance to do. I think NASA should continue with their space pngram but, next time people wOl be more aware of what risk they're taking. nat a Challenger family gave us sadness, but much pride HA on WULDAT Pi Carolyn Speerstra Harcourt She was every bit as much a pioneer as the men and women who vanished forever in a 100-ton space shuttle.

She devoted almost her entire life to the education of Oregon's children, and she did so with the same spirit and dedication as have been attributed to the young teacher aboard the Challenger. When I learned the news of Christa McAuliffe's death and then the news of Ga-ga's death, I knew she had chosen 9 a.m., Jan. 28, 1986, to die. It seemed a very important time for all great teachers to be togeth- Jennifer Miller have also expected it to go according to schedule. We are "exploring a new frontier" and there are dangers and risks involved.

I don't think I'll take the Space program for granted anymore. Finally, the Challenger made me realize how much it means to be an American. I was so proud as I watched the Challenger lift off and it hurt so much when I thought about all the families that were affected by the disaster. It's like they were all members of our own "TV 1L MWA flAPP By Jennifer Miller Salem I am a 5th grader at Brush College and I am in the Young Astronauts program there. I am very proud of all the wonderful things that my country has done in the space program.

Last week, I watched the Challenger lift off. It looked spectacular as all the lift-offs do. Then the explosion hapened and it seemed terribly unreal. I couldn't believe it had happened. Then I heard different comments from people like, "This will set the space program way back" and "they shouldn't have sent a teacher up because she wasn't a professional astronaut." I was very sad about the disaster and I was very sad about some of the things that were said.

It made me think The Challenger wasn't a failure at all. Even though we didn't get our "lessons from space," I think we all still learned something. Challenger was taking a teacher into space. It was showing that the exploration of space can be for even-one. I want to be a teacher, but I would also like to go into space.

I don't think people should be limited by their "professions." Second, the Challenger didn't fail because it gave most people a greater respect for the Space program. When I have watched the other shuttles take off and land, I have always been impressed but I mi K. J' Tragedy affects child Among those letters from children was one from 5-year-old Angela Smith of Salem. Angela's letter arrived accompanied by a note from her mother, Janet. Its gentle phrasing suggested that the explosion of Challenger was much on the minds of Angela and her entire family.

"Enclosed is a letter written by my 5-year-old daughter expressing her thoughts about the seven brave pioneers who reached for the sky," Janet Smith wrote. "Could you possibly find room in the Statesman-Journal for her loving words?" Angela Smith.