Still remembered, still pioneering
A new statue was unveiled this week at the New Hampshire State House in Concord -- and it made history.
Designed by Idaho sculptor Benjamin Victor, the 8-foot-tall bronze depicts teacher and astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who died in 1986 when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded shortly after launching. Six other crew members also perished.
McAuliffe’s statue shows her wearing an astronaut uniform and smiling. Her motto -- “I touch the future, I teach.” -- is etched on one side of the pedestal.
It is the first statue of a woman to be erected on New Hampshire's State House lawn.
McAuliffe was teaching history, law and economics at Concord High School when NASA selected her to join its Teacher in Space Project. Announced by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, the project received 11,000 applications from educators who wanted to be the first private citizen to fly on the shuttle. Described by McAuliffe as "the ultimate field trip," she had planned to teach lessons about daily life aboard the shuttle versus on Earth and explain the reasons for exploring space.
For members of Generation X, McAuliffe was a symbol of hope and inspiration. Many watched the launch on television in school. The events of January 28, 1986 have become a touchstone of their childhood.
Kristin Jacques, a former student of Christa’s who now teaches fifth grade, praised McAuliffe for always engaging with her pupils.
“She didn’t just teach us about the world. She taught us how to be part of it,” Jacques told the Concord Monitor.
Christa's husband, Steven McAuliffe, attended the unveiling ceremony on Monday, which would have been her 76th birthday. He said she would've been enthusiastic about being honored "as long as it was shared with all teachers and educators."
“I hope teachers everywhere will come and see it," Steven McAuliffe said. "I hope they take pride in their noble work. I hope that students will come and see. And I hope that they will be inspired to pursue their dreams."
Dozens of schools now bear McAuliffe's name as does the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Her name has also been given to an asteroid as well as craters on the moon and Venus, and her likeness has appeared on a commemorative silver dollar issued in 2021 by the U.S. Mint.
In 2017-2018, two educators-turned-astronauts at the International Space Station recorded some of the lessons McAuliffe had planned to teach. Those lessons are now available online for all students to use.
FMI: Click here.
Better late than never
A postcard was finally delivered last month to its intended destination -- 121 years after it was originally mailed.
The Christmas-themed card, which was affixed with a King Edward VII stamp, read:
"Dear L. I could not, it was impossible to get the pair of these. I am so sorry, but I hope you are enjoying yourself at home. I have got now about 10/- [shillings] as pocket money not counting the train fare so I’m doing alright. Remember me to Miss Gilbert and John. With love to all from Ewart."
The card was posted by 13-year-old Ewart Davies in 1903 to his sister, 16-year-old Lydia Davies, who previously lived at the listed address. That location now serves as the main branch of the Swansea Building Society, a member-owned financial institution in Swansea, Wales. After receiving the postcard, the staff put out a call on social media to find Davies' relatives.
And, it worked!
On Aug. 28, several of Lydia and Ewart's descendants met for the first time. Ewart’s grandson, Nick Davies, 65, joined Lydia’s great-nieces, Helen Roberts and Margaret Spooner, and Lydia’s great-granddaughter, Faith Reynolds, to view the postcard.
"It’s like a family reunion, where the only connection you have is a common ancestor dating back to over a 100 years ago," Nick Davies told the BBC.
The historic missive will be put on display for the public to view at the West Glamorgan Archive.
FMI: Click here.
Conservation king
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THIS WEEK’S POLL
LAST WEEK’S POLL
THIS WEEK IN (POSITIVE) HISTORY
On September 4, 1888, George Eastman received a patent for his roll-film camera. He also registered the trademark: Kodak.
On September 5, 2006, Katie Couric made TV history when she debuted as the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news broadcast ("CBS Evening News With Katie Couric").
On September 6, 1870, Louisa Ann Swain voted in state elections in Wyoming, becoming the first woman to cast a vote in the U.S.
On September 7, 1986, the Cleveland Browns became the first NFL team to have a play reviewed by instant replay.
On September 8, 1966, the original "Star Trek" series premiered on NBC.
On September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
On September 10, 2008, the Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, conducted its first test.
On September 11, 1914, W.C. Handy, who was known as the "Father of the Blues," published his most famous composition ("St. Louis Blues").
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
On September 4, French diplomat/author François-Auguste-René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand, novelist/short story writer Richard Wright and singer Beyoncé
On September 5, Tanzanian-English singer/songwriter Freddie Mercury (Queen), actor Michael Keaton and rock guitarist Dweezil Zappa
On September 6, Scottish Nobel Prize-winning physiologist J.J.R. Macleod, actor/producer/DJ Idris Elba and actress Justina Machado
On September 7, Queen Elizabeth I of Britain, singer Buddy Holly and comedienne Leslie Jones
On September 8, British actor Peter Sellers, singer Patsy Cline and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
On September 9, Russian author Leo Tolstoy, singer/songwriter Otis Redding and English actor Hugh Grant
On September 10, voodoo queen of New Orleans Marie Laveau, German shepherd/Hollywood star Rin Tin Tin and golfer Arnold Palmer
On September 11, director Brian DePalma, singer/actor Harry Connick Jr. and actress/producer/singer Taraji P. Henson
THIS WEEK’S FUN HOLIDAYS
On September 4, National Macadamia Nut Day, National Newspaper Carrier Day, National Spice Blend Day, National Wildlife Day and Eat an Extra Dessert Day
On September 5, International Day of Charity, World Samosa Day and National Cheese Pizza Day
On September 6, National Coffee Ice Cream Day, National Food Bank Day, National Read A Book Day, Bring Your Manners to Work Day and Fight Procrastination Day
On September 7, International Bacon Day, International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, World Beard Day, National Acorn Squash Day, National Beer Lover's Day, National Feel the Love Day, National Grandma Moses Day, National Grateful Patient Day, National Hummingbird Day, National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day, National Salami Day, National Tailgating Day, Buy a Book Day, Superhuman Day and Turkey Vulture Day
On September 8, International Iguana Awareness Day, World Literacy Day, National Ampersand Day, National Dog Walker Appreciation Day, National Grandparents Day, National Hug Your Hound Day, Actors' Day and Star Trek Day
On September 9, International Box Wine Day, International Sudoku Day, National Teddy Bear Day, National When Pigs Fly Day, National Wiener Schnitzel Day, Care Bears Share Your Care Day, Steak au Poivre Day and Wonderful Weirdos Day
On September 10, National Ants on a Log Day, National TV Dinner Day and Swap Ideas Day
On September 11, National Hot Cross Bun Day and National Make Your Bed Day
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
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SIMPLE PLEASURES
* Take a drive, roll down the windows and let the air play across your bare arms
* Look up at the sky and make cloud animals
* Jump into a puddle. Who knows? It might be a portal to somewhere fantastic.
HOW TO SPREAD JOY/KINDNESS
* Stand next to the shopping cart kiosk in the grocery store parking lot. Hand a flower or bottle of water to every person who returns their cart.
* Send a thank you note to local first responders.
* Volunteer to walk an elderly or infirm neighbor's dog.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house." --Nathaniel Hawthorne
MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Title quote is by David Miliband.
Thanks to WMUR9 ABC, Benjamin Victor Studios, NASA, Collect Space, The Union-Leader, YouTube, the Concord Monitor, The Associated Press, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, NHPR, CBC Radio, the Swansea Building Society, BBC News, Apple News, Sam Bentley, Instagram, The Ed Sullivan Show, Kamilla Isalieva, Unsplash, History.com, This Day in History, Britannica, Time and Date, On This Day, the Library of Congress, IMDb, Famous Birthdays, This Day in Music, National Today, National Day Calendar, Holidays Calendar, Meals on Wheels America, Emily Charlotte Powell, While I Was Drawing, Counting Beans, Canva and Deposit Photos for art and story suggestions.
And congratulations to Sarah S., a paid subscriber to A Bit of Good News. Her name was randomly selected in our monthly giveaway. The September prize: "The Little Book of Hygge" by Meik Wiking
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Great to see that Christa McAuliffe is being remembered in that way, and I love that story about the postcard! Thanks for sharing.