Sunday night, I was watching the Super Bowl like many of you. But instead of focusing my attention on the half-time show, I was remembering where I was when I heard the president say “Columbia is lost.”
When I woke up Feb. 1, 2003 I found out that the shuttle had broken up during re-entry. I listened to news reports while I got ready for work. Throughout the day, people continued to talk about the events of that morning and the seven lives lost.
As reports continued to come in, two friends and fellow reporters brought up the idea of going to Hemphill, Texas to cover the story, so we left that night. It was a great idea, but we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into.
As we drove to Shreveport that night, we called air bases, police stations and our families and friends for up-to-date information. When we arrived at my friend’s parents’ house, we sat in front of the television and plotted our plan of action for the next day.
We woke up early Feb. 2 and dressed in nice shirts and slacks to go reporting. As we reached the limits of Hemphill we noticed that it was not the type of place to attract media attention. This little town with only a Dairy Queen had national media swarming all over.
When we got to the little fire house that was converted into the NASA and FBI headquarters we stood around and listened to media giants analyze what was going on.
Next, we followed a steady stream of officials down a long road where state maintenance ended and a clay road began.
It was there that the story of Columbia really was told.
Volunteers lined the road at the forest’s edge preparing to go into the forest to find debris and anything that could give insight into the crash.
Along the road was a wooden cross that marked the place where human remains were found just 24 hours earlier. It was sad and solemn, but it made everyone remember why they were giving selflessly to help find answers.
Later that day, my colleagues and I found another search party doing the same thing, but in a different part of the forest. That was where we decided to join the search, dress slacks and all.
It was unnerving to enter an unknown forest. We couldn’t see but two feet ahead of us and when we turned there was another tree or more thickets. We were depending on members from the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office to help guide our search.
Although both crews found debris, we didn’t find any ourselves.
Much like we depended on the sheriff’s officers for help, they were depending on Texas volunteers for help.
The tragedy that occurred a year ago did not just happen to the space program, but to us all. I questioned what we were doing and whether we should continue sending people into space. I didn’t want to see our nation go through another tragedy. But I believe though the nation experiences tragedy we are stronger because of it.
We remember the lives lost and thank them and their families for helping this country to succeed. We all have a duty to do for this nation, whether it is to work for NASA as an astronaut, to be in the military or to be a citizen supporting what our nation is trying to discover.