Where were you on February 20, 1962? Not yet born, in diapers, in High School, College, wherever? Well, I was in High School. It seems like just yesterday how everyone in the nation was transfixed on the black & white television watching that Atlas missile carry Astronaut John Glenn into earth orbit. Boy, it was a shock back in October 1957 when the Russians were able to launch "Sputnik 1" into earth orbit. I know I felt as though we had been beaten! I so remember watching all of the failed launches from then Cape Canaveral, Florida. It seemed to me in the 1950's that our nation was no longer the best! Then in April 1961, Russian Astronaut Yuri Gargarin was put into earth orbit, the Russians again ahead of the United States. I so remember my teacher explaining in 1961 that our world would forever be changed!. How prescient was then Joe McDermott. He became a friend of mine for decades to come. Then in February 1962 it seemed as though a burden had been lifted when we as a nation were able to have astronaut John Glenn successfully orbit our earth three times. How much the younger generation has missed !
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