By Jim Cawley
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
NASA Kennedy Space Center employees and guests, including a large group of students from Israel, gathered to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for human spaceflight.
The crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other fallen astronauts who lost their lives in the name of space exploration and discovery, were honored Thursday, Jan. 30, with a ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Forty-four Israeli students — half of whom attend the high school of Ilan Ramon, who perished in the Columbia tragedy in 2003 — came to pay tribute to their national hero on a beautiful and breezy, sun-splashed Central Florida day.
“This is a solemn occasion as we gather to honor those who gave their lives in the quest for exploration,” said speaker Kelvin Manning, Kennedy’s associate director, technical.
“We are still deeply impacted by their loss,” Manning continued. “Although this year marks 53 years since Apollo I, 34 years since the space shuttle Challenger and 17 years since the space shuttle Columbia tragedies, their crews are remembered forever.”
Astronauts Memorial Foundation president and CEO Thad Altman read aloud the names listed on the memorial wall. Each name was followed by a bell-ringing by Boatswain’s Mate First Class Ronald Stewart.
“We endeavor, we remember and we look back,” Altman said. “I think the most important thing that we do each year working with our NASA partners is to reenergize our commitment for human spaceflight.”
Altman and Manning carried a wreath, which was placed at the memorial. Several attendees inserted flowers into the fence in front of the wall.
“Let us not forget these brave men and women, and let’s continue to venture forward and benefit from their great sacrifice, and thank them for all the successes we’ve had as a result of their ultimate sacrifice,” Altman said.
NASA centers throughout the country participate in the agency’s annual Day of Remembrance. Visitor complex attendees included Kennedy Associate Director, Management, Burt Summerfield; Brigadier General Doug Schiess, commander of the 45th Space Wing and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Air Force Base; and Chief Master Sergeant Scott King, command chief of the 45th Space Wing and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Manning, who has attended many NASA Day of Remembrance events, is invariably moved by the connection the agency has made with the families over the years.
“They all want us to keep pressing forward — to get back to the Moon, to go beyond,” Manning said, “and it is such a privilege to be part of the NASA team to carry that mission out.”