When I was a kid, I remember the polio vaccine being discovered by Dr. Jonas Salk. My cousin had polio and it was very contagious, so we all got the immunization. I was 9 or 10.
Alan Weinstein, Mullica Hill
My mom and I had just finished grocery shopping at the A&P when everything became uncharacteristically quiet. I stood on the back seat of our two-tone Chrysler – still in our parking place, rather than pulling up to have our bags loaded into the trunk – while mom listened to the radio. JFK had been assassinated. I remember asking, “Mom, why are you crying?”
Chris Rollins, Shamong
I remember Watergate. It was on TV all the time, and I can remember hearing people talking about Richard Nixon. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew it wasn’t good, and people were mad about it.
Lucy Miller, Marlton
When I was in first grade, we spent weeks studying space in anticipation of the Challenger space shuttle launch. My teacher was so excited, because the shuttle was going to be carrying the first teacher to go to space. The day of the launch, my teacher had set up a TV in our classroom so we could watch. We were all glued to the screen as the shuttle launched – and then exploded just a minute later. I remember the classroom was silent except for the sound of my teacher crying.
Danielle Forrest, Deptford
World War II ending. When it came over the radio, my father said, “Come on, we’re going to church,” and when we got there, it was mobbed. It was surprising that everyone thought to do that, but it was a glorious day, because the war was finally over.
Mary Bernard, Hainesport
I remember when Apollo 13 was in trouble, when they lost contact for hours, and we were just sitting there, waiting.
Chris Bergeman, Mantua
We were listening to soap operas on the radio, and they interrupted and said President Roosevelt was found dead. Everyone was devastated – the world was devastated. He had just been elected, and now he was gone.
Marie Miller, Medford
I remember the Vietnam War and wearing a P.O.W. bracelet. I was 6 or 7. I remember seeing images of the soldiers. Seeing all of that was scary.
Roseann Vanella, Marlton
The U.S. boycott of the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 really impacted me. I had just watched the winter games in Lake Placid, and it was foreign to me why we couldn’t participate. But now I’m older and wiser, so I fully understand why.
Col. David LeRoy, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
I remember when the astronauts landed on the moon. I was 5, and we were in our basement. Everyone was gathered around watching it on our black-and-white TV. I didn’t understand what was happening, I just remember everyone making a big deal about it.
Anthony Guerrieri, Mays Landing
There was a Vietnam P.O.W. who came home to Willingboro. My mom took us to the Willingboro Plaza to see him. He was a helicopter pilot, and he was in his uniform. He stood on a platform and spoke. I was 10, and I was amazed. I remember thinking, “How could someone live through that?”
Dennis Devry, Mount Laurel
The Twin Towers coming down. I was in second grade, and I was hiding in my house, because I was afraid they were going to come and blow us up.
Connor McGashon, Cinnaminson
The O.J. Simpson trial. People knew the facts of the trial because it was on TV – nothing like that had been televised before. Reality TV didn’t exist, so it was really unusual.
Tricia Manson, Sewell
