During my morning run, to help the time pass, I usually fill my mind with what many would consider frivolous thoughts and unlikely scenarios. Over the years, one of my favorites has been to picture myself as a “fly on the wall” witnessing historical events in our nation’s history. I would love to be a spectator observing exactly what occurred, word for word, and compare it to official recorded accounts. I’ve also compiled an ever-changing top ten file of these happenings. In no particular order, here are five selections from my list I’m sure you will all be familiar with. The Apollo 11 moon landing, July 20, 1969: Can you imagine the sheer exhilaration as Apollo 11 touched down, knowing you were going to witness the first humans ever to walk on the surface of the moon—astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins, the third astronaut was orbiting the moon as he piloted the mother ship and never landed on the surface. I can’t envision another experience that could prove more terrifying and thrilling at the same time. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Finally, after this bloody war, pitting brother against brother, the two most celebrated figures from this conflict sit down together to put an end to the unspeakable carnage.
With his army surrounded, his men weak and exhausted, Robert E. Lee realized there was little choice but to consider the surrender of his Army to General Grant. After a series of notes between the two leaders, they agreed to meet on April 9, 1865, at the home of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox in the Courthouse.
The meeting lasted approximately two and one-half hours and at its conclusion, the bloodiest conflict in the nation’s history neared its end. Few realize that another soon-to-be famous general was present at this historical signing–General George Armstrong Custer. Amelia Earhart’s attempted circumnavigational flight of the globe with navigator Fred Noonan on July 2, 1937: This one intrigues me for the simple fact that the ongoing mystery is still being explored today. Certainly one of the most intriguing women in world history, the controversy of her disappearance is still disputed among experts today. It’s also one of those mysteries which I believe will never be solved. The Continental Congress declares independence from England: The Congress met from 1774 to 1789 in three incarnations. The first call for a convention was made over issues of intolerable acts penalizing Massachusetts. Though at first divided on independence and a break from Crown rule, the new Congress in July, 1776, gave a unanimous vote for independence and issued the Declaration of Independence as a new nation, the United States of America. What a rousing, passionate meeting that must have been! These somber, deadly serious young men knew if they failed in this monumental struggle they would all be hanged for treason. Although many movies over the years have portrayed what took place at this gathering of founders, there would be nothing quite as epic as sitting in the hall, listening to these courageous men arguing about the eventual birth of our country.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Oct. 26, 1881: The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.26, in Tombstone Ariz., and is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the old west. The gunfight, believed to have lasted only about thirty seconds, was fought between the outlaw cowboys Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and his brother Frank, and the opposing lawmen Sheriff Virgil Earp and his brothers Morgan and Wyatt Earp, aided by Doc Holliday acting as Virgil’s temporary deputy. Cowboys Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborn ran from the fight unharmed, but Ike’s brother Billy Clanton was killed, along with both McLaurys.
Lawmen Doc Holliday, Morgan and Virgil Earp were wounded. Only Wyatt Earp came through the fight unharmed. The fight has come to represent a time in when the frontier was open range for outlaws opposed by law enforcement that was spread thin over vast territories, leaving some areas unprotected. Although immortalized in films over the years, I suspect the actual witnessing of this event would prove vastly different. I can almost picture myself, leaning on a fence post, drinking from a bottle of whisky, cheering for the Earp boys as bullets flew around my head I know what you’re thinking right about now–this guy has way too much time on his hands and needs to return to reality. However, the next time you are daydreaming, I challenge you to come up with your own top ten “Fly List.” I believe you just might enjoy this lighthearted exercise.
