Thanks for your comments. This experience is a very vibrant memory for me, and a story that I've told and retold many times in person. This was my first experience dealing directly with philosophical and idealogical differences, which makes the memory clear, because so much about belief systems and character was being sharply defined on that afternoon. Every event mattered, and still matters to me and so I remember it clearly. The one detail that I'm not as certain on is the names of the people involved - that's not as important to me now - except for my direct neighbours the Bruce's.
I know the stand that I took on that day, because it contrasts with times when I haven't been as strong. Do you remember times when you were stronger than you usually are? Those memories tend to stand out.