Memoir Monday: 1979 Solar Eclipse–Where were you?

Where were you on February 26, 1979–when last total eclipse occurred? Who were you with? What were your impressions?

The path of totality back then passed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana (where totality covered almost the entire state), and North Dakota, the Canadian provinces Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, the Northwest Territories of Canada (the portion that is now Nunavut), and Greenland.

This year’s media coverage of the event is widespread as hundreds of thousands flock to witness the eclipse firsthand. Perhaps the most nostaligic media coverage of the 1979 event is the ABC clip of a report by anchor, Frank Reynolds. Especially poignant are his last words:

“So that’s it, the last solar eclipse to be seen on this continent in this century. As I said, not until August 21, 2017, will another eclipse be visible from North America. That’s 38 years from now. May the shadow of the moon fall on a world at peace.”

The next solar eclipse will be April 2024. In the words of Frank Reynolds, “May the shadow of the moon fall on a world at peace.” PLEASE!