Rants & Raves: Readers react to Challenger explosion anniversary

I was in elementary school at Golfview Elementary located in Rockledge, Fla. (one of the mainland cities of Cocoa Beach/ Kennedy Space Center). My dad worked for NASA. Every time a shuttle went up we would watch. But this was special because Christa McAuliffe was going into space. So we were all lined up outside on the PE field. We watched/heard/felt it go up and we were so excited. Then it exploded, and we knew immediately. Because living there we had seen many shuttle and rocket explosions. It was awful. Because we all knew. We didn't do anything the rest of the day. We all cried; the teachers couldn't stop crying.Sarhi Chanudet Wiggins

Working at Wendy's in the Village at Wexford, Hilton Head Island. Remember it like it was yesterday. Lori Hutson

I was in the third grade living in Cocoa Beach, Fla., not too far from Cape Canaveral. Our class stayed in that day and didn't get to see the Challenger launch. The other classes did. I remember our school janitor rushing into our classroom and telling our teacher. I was absolutely heartbroken. Alycia Gilde Egan

I was at work. Our secretary answered the phone, spoke briefly to someone, hung up and looked up and said, "The launch blew up." I can still see the look on her face. Layna Taylor

At work at the Ohio House of Representatives as a page. We were all glued to the television. Tracey Lancione Lloyd

I was in the stands at the viewing area at the Cape. Very traumatic! Have some good pictures. Gene Baldwin

Joshua Barney Elementary School in Geata, Italy. Ryan Magee

I was on the "grinder" at Naval Training Center Orlando waiting for chow. They played the radio over the 1MC. That was the quietest the chow hall had ever been. Tim Voegeli

I was in 5th grade at Julington Creek Elementary in Jacksonville, Fla. I was returning to class after dropping off the attendance and, when I walked by the library, there were a few teachers huddled around a TV, and I knew that something bad had happened. Cadra Culley Rooney

Working at Dulles Airport in Fairfax, Va., as a ticket agent. It was a sad day for everyone in the airport. Fran Acquah

I was at the old Shoney's on HHI (the original one where Stack's is now) having breakfast when someone came into the restaurant and shared the news. Linda Hopkins

Skipped classes on a beautiful winter day from SUNY Cortland to go skiing. Stopped to get gas and heard it on the radio in the car. Melanie Brown French

Eating pizza up in Billerica, Mass. Never forget that day. Joe Piechota

Living in Germany at the time. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Kelly and Shawn Hill

Lynnhaven Elementary School Virginia Beach, Va. Mark Bishop Campbell

In my office, Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, Calif. Terribly sad moment in history. Linda Capuano McRae

I remember I was shopping and my son called to tell me he was leaving for deployment and couldn't tell me where he was going. It was a devastating day on all accounts. Dean Williams

Watched it on TV in the library at Lady's Island Middle School. Tony Robinson

In my new car, crossing the dam in Lexington County on my way to a real estate meeting. Brand new Taurus, thermostat died and it was a rare 20 degrees outside. I was freezing with no heat in the car. Nowhere to pull over or stop, just had to keep going on until I reached the other side. I heard about it on the radio. Made me think my problem was pretty small in perspective. Debbie Dotson Gillies

I was in an old-fashioned pharmacy in Simpsonville, S.C. There was a small TV on, and we watched the launch. I remember the sick feeling when the rocket exploded. So sad. Betsy Cooke

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This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Rants & Raves: Readers react to Challenger explosion anniversary."