I grew up on the cape or close enough anyway. Back in 1956 when we
arrived from Chicago. There was little more than sand and mosquitoes
and LOTS of mosquitoes. The folks eventually bought a house in Cocoa
Beach. I remember seeing my first launch. Back then everything was
all "secret" anyone who worked at the cape or down the road at Patrick
AFB who knew when a launch was going to take place was not allowed to
tell anyone. One evening Dad took us all out for a walk down to the
beach and told us to look up north towards the Cape. Tho he could not
tell us what was going on, of course we knew. esp as the gov was
shining huge searchlights all over the place....Anyway we walked along
the beach, which for a change was without 4 zillion mosquitoes as
there was quite a breeze off of the ocean. Apparently the launch was
delayed and we were just about ready to head on home when my brother
excitedly says "Look there it is". and sure enough we saw what we
later found out was a Vanguard taking off. It went up all of about
what seemed 3 or four inches from the distance then back down and
exploded. A little more than 10 years later I watched a Apollo Saturn
moon shot while playing golf across the river. An amazing place to
grow up