Well, my mom was in taking a math test (undergrad) and my dad was in the army, serving in Germany. I've heard their stories, though.

The first big really tragic news story I remember was the Challenger explosion (9th grade). Smaller bad news, Reagan getting shot. But I also have vivid memories of some of the bicentennial celebrations, and for some odd reason, Carter's inauguration!

My brother pointed to the night the Berlin Wall came down as the biggest event that us Gen-Xers should be sure to remember where they were. A lot don't, alas. Of course, not everyone heard stories of it going up that we did-- our Dad was in a military intelligence unit in Berlin then, so he had some tales to tell that aren't in the history books...