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Statement by President Bush (on loss of space shuttle Columbia)
Spaceflight Now ^

Posted on 02/01/2003 11:54:37 AM PST by McGruff

My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.

On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.

In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.

All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.

The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.

In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.

May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; columbiatragedy; feb12003; nasa; spaceshuttle; sts107
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1 posted on 02/01/2003 11:54:37 AM PST by McGruff
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2 posted on 02/01/2003 11:57:53 AM PST by McGruff (The shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.)
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To: McGruff
In case anyone wants to print an STS-107 shuttle patch for prosperity -->CLICK
3 posted on 02/01/2003 12:02:17 PM PST by red-dawg (29 deg. , 35.338 min. N ; 98 deg. , 22.966 min. W.)
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To: McGruff
Gonna be tough for and PHC to do their annual joke show tonight.
4 posted on 02/01/2003 12:03:54 PM PST by billorites
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To: billorites
What I meant to say is that it will be difficult for Garrison Kiellor and Prarie Home Companion to do their annual joke show tonight.
5 posted on 02/01/2003 12:04:52 PM PST by billorites
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To: McGruff
Bump
6 posted on 02/01/2003 12:04:54 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Tag Line Service Center: Get your Tag Lines Here! Wholesale! (Cheaper by the Dozen!) Inquire Within)
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To: McGruff
Screw those a$$holes at DU. It was a wonderful speech.
7 posted on 02/01/2003 12:05:44 PM PST by Xenalyte
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To: McGruff
Thanks for the post and the pic.

What our President said, and how he said it, was very moving.

I thank the Lord for him.

8 posted on 02/01/2003 12:05:53 PM PST by jwfiv
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: McGruff; All
In honor of the Columbia astronauts, would someone please post the official NASA picture of them, on this and every thread about this tragedy? Their faces deserve to be remembered. Thanks...
10 posted on 02/01/2003 12:11:15 PM PST by FBD (May God be with the families of "Columbia")
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To: Dark Templar; OliveBranch
They're all het up because it took five hours for him to show up. I mean, really. If he'd spoken immediately, they would have crucified him for speaking prematurely.

And even worse . . . one thread over there says that Dubya's sedated or tranquilized. The poster claims to be able to tell from his pupils and the speed of his blinks that he's on Valium.

Ill-bred vultures.

Except for OliveBranch, of course, who has demonstrated pure class and sensitivity today.
11 posted on 02/01/2003 12:12:27 PM PST by Xenalyte
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To: Xenalyte
He was having trouble holding back the tears when he stepped away from the microphone.
12 posted on 02/01/2003 12:15:54 PM PST by lady lawyer
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: jwfiv
I second that emotion. Those words of faith came from his own heart.

We scarce deserve such a man as our President.
14 posted on 02/01/2003 12:18:46 PM PST by exit82
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: McGruff
"The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home." - President George W Bush, 1 February 2003

Once again President Bush is called upon to provide comfort to a shocked and saddened nation. May God Bless America and our President.

16 posted on 02/01/2003 12:21:09 PM PST by Darlin' (May God Bless and comfort the families and friends of all onboard)
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To: McGruff
A beautiful speech. My wife, who listens to our liberal friends and is not a great Bush admirer, thought so too. And she commented with approval that it's been a long time since a U.S. president openly spoke about God like that.
17 posted on 02/01/2003 12:22:17 PM PST by Cicero
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To: Darlin'
For a guy who's supposed to be such an illiterate and inarticulate dunce, he sure comes up with some of the most beautiful and poignant words.
18 posted on 02/01/2003 12:24:53 PM PST by NYC GOP Chick (The LMDC can go to hell)
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To: coteblanche

19 posted on 02/01/2003 12:25:29 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: McGruff
Thanks so much for posting the President's words. I have been waiting for someone to post them. His quoting of the scripture from Isaiah really touched me. I was holding it together up until then. Really lost it after that. Such a sad time....
20 posted on 02/01/2003 12:26:20 PM PST by TXLady
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