Bush Offers Inspiring Words to Grieving Families of the Columbia Crew
("We remember seven lives of great purpose and achievement," he says)
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By Alicia Langley
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The grieving families of the seven astronauts who
perished February 1 when their space shuttle Columbia broke apart as
it reentered Earth's atmosphere sat with President and First Lady
Laura Bush at a February 4 memorial service at the Johnson Space
Center in Houston, Texas.
Bush, in his eulogy, said "Today we remember not only one moment of
tragedy, but seven lives of great purpose and achievement."
"Our whole nation was blessed to have such men and women serving in
our space program," he said. "Their loss is deeply felt, especially in
this place, where so many of you called them friends," the president
said.
"The people in NASA are being tested once again," he said, referring
to the Challenger disaster in 1986. "In your grief, you are responding
as your friends would have wished -- with focus, professionalism and
unbroken faith in the mission of this agency."
Those killed when the Columbia broke up over Texas included shuttle
commander Rick Husband, pilot William McCool, payload commander
Michael Anderson, payload specialist Ilan Ramon, an Israeli Air Force
colonel, payload specialist Dr. Laurel Clark, payload specialist Dr.
David Brown and payload specialist Kalpana Chawla, a naturalized
American born in Karnal, India.
Rick Husband's widow and her daughter and son sat in the front row
next to President Bush, while the family of Israeli astronaut Ilan
Ramon sat next to the First Lady.
Also attending the ceremony were former U.S. astronauts including Neil
Armstrong and former Senator John Glenn, NASA employees, government
officials and members of the U.S. Congress.
Rabbi Harold Robinson of the United States Navy began the service with
prayers in English and Hebrew.
"When we view our little planet from out in space, we learn the unity
of all humanity here on Earth," he said.
"Today our grief is overwhelming," said NASA Administrator Sean
O'Keefe. The faces of the family members gathered in the first two
rows were a clear testament.
"Our duty now is to provide comfort to the brave families of the
Columbia crew," he said. "We also have a tremendous duty to honor the
legacy of those fallen heroes by finding out what caused the loss of
the Columbia and its crew, to correct what problems we find, and to
make sure this never happens again."
U.S. Navy Captain Kent Rominger, Chief of the Astronauts Office at the
Johnson Space Center, also delivered a poignant eulogy, recalling
memorable encounters he had with each member of the shuttle's crew and
praising their courage and dedication.
"They were a generous and caring group with a great sense of humor,"
Rominger said. He told a story about the astronauts attaching STS-107
tattoos to guests at last year's Christmas party.
President Bush offered a special message of consolation to the
astronauts' children.
"You need to know they loved you and that love will always be with
you. They were proud of you. And you can be proud of them for the rest
of your life," Bush said. He met privately with the family members of
the fallen astronauts following the ceremony.
A bell rang seven times in memory of each of the Columbia Seven.
Mourners then looked up toward the skies in unison as astronauts
roared overhead in four T-38 jets in the "missing man" formation.
Until the cause of the Columbia's disaster is found and corrected,
NASA has grounded its three remaining shuttles, but President Bush has
promised that manned space flights will continue.
"This cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we choose;
it is a desire written in the human heart," Bush said in his remarks.
"We are that part of creation which seeks to understand all creation.
We find the best among us, send them forth into unmapped darkness and
pray they will return. They go in peace for all mankind, and all
mankind is in their debt."
The families of the dead astronauts on February 3 urged that space
exploration continue, despite the losses they have suffered.
"Although we grieve deeply, as do the families of Apollo 1 and
Challenger before us, the bold exploration of space must go on," a
statement from the families said. "Once the root cause of this tragedy
is found and corrected, the legacy of Columbia must carry on -- for
the benefit of our children and yours."
The sad memorial service included hymns by The Navy Sea Chanters and
the U.S. Navy Band Chorus.
In other parts of Texas, debris from the fallen shuttle had been
turned into memorials by wreaths, flowers and personal notes laid
nearby.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
