It is a ‘where were you when’ discussion that has happened several times during the past few months. Quite frankly, there are very few things I remember vividly about the summer of ‘69 and I can’t claim to have “experienced” it as many did during the nation’s biggest outdoor concert.

My days were filled with the new hit “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies if that gives you an idea of how old I was at the time. In August 1969, more than half a million people gathered in the small town of Woodstock for four days of rain, drugs and rock and roll. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin took the stage, along with The Who, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane and many others. I vaguely remember my parents talking about the mess they described near the big city of New York.

The year 1969 brought many other memorable moments. I remember my family gathering around a small black and white television and looking at grainy pictures of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they became the first humans to walk on the moon. We always watched news clips of space travel. I remember the return flights as rescue crews would help astronauts climb out of their space capsules in the middle of the ocean. They would be hurried away to quarantined areas for days. It’s so different now.

I learned how to spell Chappaquiddick for all the wrong reasons. Sen. Edward Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident in Chappaquiddick, Mass., where Mary Jo Kopechne drowned. It was one of many tragedies faced by the Kennedy family. That very newsmaker, Teddy Kennedy, will be laid to rest this weekend.

And the horrific crime known as the Charles Manson murders happened during that infamous year. Discussions of multiple gruesome murders, messages written in blood and followers who were brainwashed left an indelible impression on young and old alike. Amazingly, he still has followers today. A recent newscast shared about young teens who are almost like groupies, claiming their adornment is due to his caring about the environment. That’s another unbelievable thought.

Were you serving in Vietnam during that unforgettable summer? We all have various memories of an unnecessary war, for which we learned many lessons. Today’s thoughts of “support the troops, even if you don’t support the war” make it a different experience when any of our soldiers come home.

What do you remember about the summer of ‘69? Maybe it was the signing of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty by more than 100 countries? The Beatles recorded their last album in 1969. The FCC banned all cigarette advertising on television and radio; and Children’s Television Network introduced Sesame Street.

Maybe, the best recollection of that notorious summer was the ‘69 Miracle Mets, winning 45 of 57 games; a definite worst to first story. With greats like Tug McGraw, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan and Tommie Agee they were destined to win. Yogi Berra, first base coach at the time, brought even more memorable moments.

The summer of 2009 has been seasoned with anniversaries of these great moments. Where were you in the summer of ‘69?