Today we are remembering some people who changed our lives forever. The crew of the Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia. We also lost our beloved Pete Seeger. I am remembering them this way.
On this date in 1986 we lost seven brave men and women as we attempted to probe outer space when the space shuttle Challenger exploded.
Francis R. Scobee – Mission Commander
Michael J. Smith – Pilot
Ellison S. Onizuka – Mission Specialist 1
Judith A. Resnik – Mission Specialist 2
Ronald E. McNair – Mission Specialist 3
Christa McAuliffe – Payload Specialist 1, Teacher in space
Gregory B. Jarvis – Payload Specialist 2
On February 1, 2003 we lost the Columbia.
Rick D. Husband - Commander
William C. McCool - Pilot
Michael P. Anderson - Payload Commander
Ilan Ramon - Payload Specialist
Kalpana Chawla - Mission Specialist
David M. Brown - Mission Specialist
Laurel Blair Salton Clark - Mission Specialist
For our brave astronauts this poem has always been so meaningful to me.
High Flight
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Touched the Face of God
And for our Pete Seeger.
Serenading the Stars