Back                                    The loss of the Space shuttle Columbia                            Feb.1st 2003
On a beautiful sunny day over Texas seven gallant astronauts lost their lives. Lives they put at risk to help humanity gain knowledge with which to better our existence and our environment. We the People of earth morn their loss.
I remember Vividly January 28, 1986 when we lost the Challenger. At that time I was working with a gymnastics team and can remember how depressed the kids were. Remember that flight carried Christa McAuliffe the teacher in space so all the children were either watching on T. V. or were following the lift off in other ways. In trying to comfort them in some way I wrote this poem & this short story to help them see that the crew of Challenger were not lost in vain.
No astronaut's life is lost in vain. From the loss of these heroes mankind will learn and once we do we will go on into the future. Hopefully a better more peaceful future.
We salute the brave men & woman who dedicate & sometimes give their lives for the betterment of mankind and we morn with the families of:  David Brown, Rick Husband, Dr. Laurel Clark, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, Mike Anderson, William McCool, and Ilan Ramon. God Bless you all.   Al.
Check these links to find out more  Space.com   NASA