Fiftieth anniversaries are considered milestones in any history. If you live past 50 you will automatically be celebrating one golden anniversary after another. In 2008, for example, I joined my classmates at St. Maria Goretti High School in South Philly to celebrate 50 years since graduating as the school’s first class. In 2011, I announced to everyone that I was beginning my 50th year in teaching. I retired in 1997 but have been an adjunct at Temple University since 1998.

But I experienced something else, quite historic, 50 years ago while I was in college.