Lake Braddock Secondary School - Lair Yearbook (Burke, VA)

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Although shuttle lift-offs were more routine in 1983, one lift- off stood out above the rest. In late June Sally Kristen Ride, the first U.S. spacewoman, headed off with her four male crew members on the space shuttle Challenger. Half a million peo- ple went to the beaches of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to watch the lift- off. On the fifth day up. Ride and Air Force Colonel John Fabian began operating the 50-foot long remote- controlled mechanical arm. They retrieved a West German satellite from free flight and tucked it safely away in the cargo bay for use on a future mission. For the astronauts as well as many others, this was viewed as the mission's highlight. Ride in- sisted prior to the mission that she be treated the same as her male crewmates. Her feelings about being the first woman in space were summed up by this quote, It’s too bad that society isn't to the point yet where the country could just send up a woman astronaut in space and nobody would think twice about it. December was supposed to be cold; however, in 1983 the temperatures hit a record low which proved to be an experience many would not forget. All over the U.S., record lows hit many states with such recorded temperatures as -52 F in Wisdom, Montana; -14 F in In- dianapolis, Indiana; and 0 F in Atlanta, Georgia. Even in Florida, famed for its warm weather during the Christmas season, the cold wave struck hard and people were forced to wear such attire as sweaters and cords. Fruit crops were destroyed throughout the state and losses of 500 million dollars were recorded. Plumbing failures occurred throughout the country as well. In Washington D.C., leaks damaged two dozen federal buildings and in Ohio, broken pipes caused 200,000 dollars in the state's Supreme Court. In addition, power outages were widespread. Within the month, five hundred people died as a result of the drastic weather. For everyone, the memories of the weather in December were likely to re- main for a long time. On December 3. 1983. over 100 million television viewers across America tuned in to watch The Day After, a movie about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. Democratic Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson travelled to Syria in January of 1984 and helped release Marine Lt. Robert Goodman who was be- ing held hostage by the Syrian government. The Washington Redskins went down to Tampa. Florida to take on the Los Angeles Raiders in Superbowl XVIII. However, the Redskins were defeated 38 9. Interior Secretary James Watt resigned his post after saying the remark, We have every kind of mixture you can have. I have a black. I have a woman, two Jews and a cripple. Singer Michael Jackson made history in 1983 when his LP Thriller sold more than 23 million copies worldwide, the most in history. On February 10. 1984, Soviet Premier Yuri An- dropov was pronounced dead after much specula- tion about his health when he was last seen in public almost six months ago. The yacht Australia II became the first challenger to take the America's Cup during the races in the early fall of 1983. For the first time in history, astronauts Bruce McCandless and Robert Stewert of the tenth flight of the space shuttle Challenger walked in space, free of any life-lines on February 7. 1984. On January 1, 1984. the telephone company AT T broke up into eight smaller companies as a result of a Supreme Court hearing declaring AT T a monopoly that must be divided. On January 1,1984, the fears an doubts about society, brough about by George Orwell's nove 1984 were put to rest (for the time be ing at least). The novel consisted of th plight of two lovers Winston and Julie who lived in the time when the world' three superpowers: Oceania, Eurasie and Eastasia constanly battlec although the pattern of alliances an hostilities kept changing. The officii language was Newspeak, a version c English pared down to erase all ur wanted feelings and thoughts. Privac vanished as people were constanly wa- ched by “Big Brother. The lover were relentlessly tortured in th dreaded room 101 for thei thoughtcrime of “Down with Bi Brother.” and in the end, they sue cumbed to the torture and lost all trac of humanity. This story made the yea unsettling for many. Several o Orwell’s predictions in the nove became reality; for instance, severa nations led under similar government in the novel. Orwell wrote 1984 as warning to all mankind what could haf pen if a “negative Utopia began t sprout and grow. The thought of sue control occurring in the free world ha terrified many, although the new yea came with no ill effects. Though 198 was a grim look at the future worlt George Orwell tried not so much as t paint a grim picture, but to fight th worst tendencies in politics and societ through his writing. 324 Student Life

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Enjoying each others' company at the Soc Hop. sponsored by the seniors, are Greg Smith and Cheryl St.Amant. ptting into the beat of the music is Steve Lund and two friends at the Class of '84 Dance on At the Back-to-School Dance. Veleta Holloway and Bill Link dance to the music played by Sound Tech. nuary 6. Dances 323

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Straying over Soviet territory, Korean Airlines Flight 007 was shot down from the skies by a uissile-firing Soviet interceptor in ear- y September. All 269 passengers died, ncluding over 61 Americans and U.S. Congressman Lawrence McDonald, rhis act sparked world outrage [owards the Soviet Union. Several Vest European nations delivered pro- ests over the shooting and in Seoul, light 007’s destination, tens of housands of South Koreans joined pro- lest demonstrations. The Soviet Union [emained silent on the matter for two I ays, then afterwards said that the irliner intruded deep into Soviet irspace, admitting that warning shots vere fired. Weeks later, though, the ilot of the Soviet interceptor admitted hat he was ordered to destroy the irplane. In retaliation, many nations uspended airline service to the J.S.S.R. for two weeks. President teagan was criticized by many for his jniency when it came to sanctions gainst the Soviet Union. As a result of he shooting, the U.S.S.R.'s interna- onal relations were affected greatly, infortunately, this was no consolation r the families from 13 nations who st loved ones on the doomed Flight 07. The Days of Our Lives In trying to maintain peace in war torn Lebanon, approximately 1200 U.S. Marines were sent to the country in late summer of 1983. French, British, Italians, and Americans comprised the peacekeep- ing forces to bolster the Gemayel government against Syrians, Palesti- nian guerillas and Israel, who were un- willing to withdraw from the country. However, on October 23, 1983, tragedy struck when the Battalion Landing Team Headquarters of the U.S. Marines was bombed by terrorists. At least 239 men died and 81 were wound- ed. In addition, a building which housed French paratroopers was also bombed, leaving almost 60 dead and 15 injured. The goal of the attacks was to drive the troops out of Lebanon. In the U.S., memorial services for the Marines were held throughout the country. Americans were horrified at the event and angry that such an event happen- ed. In later months, the U.S. Marines remained in Lebanon as peacekeeping forces, but received permission from the U.S. administration to fire in the event of a hostile provocation. For the time being, the U.S. Marines beefed up security and remained in Lebanon, determined to hold the line. On Tuesday, October 25, U.S. Marines invaded the tiny island of Grenada to protect the lives of 1000 Americans left on the island after a military coup. Six of Grenada's Carribean neighbors re- quested the U.S. action, yet many U.S. allies accused the U.S. of violating in- ternational law. However, to support its action, the Administration soon pro- duced evidence that Grenada was becoming a Soviet-Cuban base. Cuban workers were found building an airstrip, supposedly built for transpor- ting Soviet weapons. Within a matter of weeks, the Marines shipped the Cubans off the island and evacuated the American students as well. The Grenada invasion was questioned by many, since it was held just one day after the tragedy in Beirut. In addition, many found it intruiging that the press was forbidden from the island. After the completion of the mission, the U.S. Marines returned home, having stabilized the government of Grenada. In a struggle for 112 days after his operation on December 1, 1982; Barney Clark, the world's first human to receive an artificial heart, died in his hospital room on March 30, 1983. Although the artificial heart was still in good working order, the patient was beset by other medical problems such as kidney failure, inflammation of the colon, and loss of blood pressure, and so Clark's doctors debated on what steps they would take to save his life. However, Clark’s health rapidly deteriorated. The doctors consulted with his wife Una Loy and it was decid- ed that the heart would be turned off. The official cause of death was “cir- culatory collapse due to multiorgan system failure. On an encouraging note for medical technology, the world’s first mechanical heart- recipient survived six times longer than the first heart transplant patient. And although Barney Clark suffered, his gallant efforts were summed up by these words: If I can make a contribu- tion. my life will count for something. Current Events 325