Columbia 20 years later: Nacogdoches in the national spotlight

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — When area shuttle Columbia disintegrated on its descent in 2003, it catapulted the small east Texas metropolis of Nacogdoches into big-time infamy. 

Thousands of individuals throughout Texas witnessed Columbia race throughout the Texas sky. What began as an awe-inspiring second rapidly was a gut-wrenching second.

“Everybody had a story. Everybody could tell you what they were doing at 8 o’ clock on February the 1st,” stated Sister Susan Catherine, who 20 years in the past was the county choose and glided by the identify Susan Kennedy.

Sister Catherine remembers the 20-year-old occasion prefer it simply occurred. She remembers she was cooking breakfast at the time when the county sheriff known as to verify the horrible news. 

Edward Michaels, then a school planetarium director at Stephen F. Austin University, and his daughter have been up earlier than daybreak to observe Columbia fly over Texas to its vacation spot in Florida.

“Our binoculars were immediately on target,” stated Michaels as their eyes have been fastened on the shuttle and single beam of sunshine and single contrail till all the things modified. “Something was not right. The shuttle looked like a 4th of July sparkler in slow motion,” Michaels recalled.

Campbell Cox was having his morning espresso when Columbia exploded over his Texas city. Cox and his household rushed to the household farm seven miles east of Nacogdoches to seek out items of that shuttle.

“A large piece we found a mile from here. I think we quit counting after 150 [pieces],” stated Cox. “We found pieces in pastures, lakes, downtown parking lots, people’s yards, school grounds…everywhere. It was just everywhere,” stated Catherine.

Then-Judge Susan Kennedy was thrust into motion as media from throughout the world descended on their East Texas county. Kennedy was the first native public face for the tragedy. 

She remembers many sleepless nights as she managed the native search-and-rescue operations early on earlier than the feds moved in.

“This was their home. Their home will always carry the weight of this very tragic event,” she stated. 

“We realized in that moment we just saw seven people die,” stated Michaels.

The particles subject coated lots of of miles over East Texas. It immediately turned a search-and-recover operation. They have been in search of something, however most significantly, anybody they may establish. Teams of volunteers had gathered to gathered to systematically combs lots of of sq. miles of rolling and rugged terrain.

“We kept using the two words over and over…surreal and sad,” stated Cox.

For Cox, discovering items of the shuttle felt like discovering a solution to what occurred. He stated he felt “duty-bound” in that second to assist with the searches. 

Judge Kennedy felt she was duty-bound to the seven crew members’ households. She additionally felt the weight of recovering the stays of the seven astronauts and the dignity they deserved.

“The innocence of the adventurer now get’s shaken. We can lose hope in those kinds of situations,” stated Sister Catherine. 

Sister Catherine took non secular vows in 2011. Her husband had died of most cancers and 7 astronauts had died over her city. She selected a non-public life after a really public one. 

She instructed WFAA that she and her husband had at all times lived a really prayerful life. But her choice to grow to be a nun and be a part of the Daughters of Divine Hope solely happened after what she’d skilled. 

“I found myself drawn more and more and more into the suffering of Christ,” Sister Catherine stated.

What occurred on Feb. 1, 2003, is a narrative of exploration, each meant and surprising. If you ask many individuals in East Texas they’re going to be capable of let you know the place they have been when area shuttle Columbia shattered over their heads. 

It was an emotional time that also resonates with the group.