They Were Flying For Me - The Challenger Space Shuttle

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Well I guess that you probably know by now
I was one who wanted to fly
I wanted to ride on that arrow of fire right up into heaven
And I wanted to go for every man
Every child, every mother of children
I wanted to carry the dreams of all people right up to the stars.

And I prayed that I’d find an answer there
Or maybe I would find a song
Giving a voice to all of the hearts that cannot be heard
And for all of the ones who live in fear
And all of those who stand apart
My being there would bring us a little step closer together

They were flying for me
They were flying for everyone
They were trying to see a brighter day for each and everyone

They gave us their light
They gave us their spirit and all they could be
They were flying for me
They were flying for me

And I wanted to wish upon the Milky Way
And dance upon a falling star
I wanted to give myself and free myself, and join myself with it all

Given the chance to dream, it can be done
The promise of tomorrow is real
Children of spaceship Earth
The future belongs to us all

She was flying for me
She was flying for everyone
She was trying to see a brighter day for each and everyone

She gave us her light
She gave us her spirit and all she can be
She was flying for me
They were flying for me
They were flying for everyone
They were trying to see a brighter day for each and everyone

They gave us their light
They gave us their spirit and all they can be
They were flying for me
They were flying for me
They were flying for me
They were flying for me

Words and music by John Denver

This is John Denver's memorial to those who lost their lives in the Challenger disaster 25 years ago. Christa McCauliffe, the science teacher who died along with her companions, was from Concord, NH and the Carmelite nuns there knew her.

The first time I saw this video, I cried. At the time it was because of the tragedy of the explosion. Today it brings tears to my eyes because it recalls a time when we did wonderful things in this country and when people of many opinions, beliefs, backgrounds and political positions worked together to risk building a better future for everyone -- "for me", Denver sings, for all of us. Today that seems a forlorn memory.