Remarks by Gov. Jeb Bush at FL NASA Kennedy Center, Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial Service, 2/7/03

State of FL website - myflorida.com ^ | Friday, Feb 7, 2003 | Jeb Bush

[summer]

Our entire nation grieves at their loss. Our prayers are with their families. And our prayers are also with you, you who shared with them the ancient dream of being one with the stars.

Who among us has never looked up into the heavens on a starlit night, lost in wonder at the vastness of space and the beauty of the stars? ....

[alisasny]

Its so damn sad : (

[summer]

Yes, it has been sad.

As sad as we are, including Gov. Bush, he was able to make an inspiring and beautiful speech to lift the hearts and minds of all those suffering from this tragic loss.

[summer]

FYI.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

BUMP.

[Joe Brower]

summer,

You have stated many times how proud you are about how Jeb personally answers emails. Well, I sent him one regarding a matter of no small importance a few days ago, and have recieved no response. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it is about a citrus-canker-Nazi incident down in Ft. Lauderdale, which doesn't reflect too well on his administration.

I would appreciate your input, off-thread, I suppose. I will also ping you to the FR thread.

[lucky7]

Thanks Summer and way to go Jeb. Thanks.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[NonValueAdded]

Little brother bump.

[The Right Stuff]

Did anyone see the remarks given by Capt. Robert Crippen? They were especially telling - I thought this tough, gruff astronaut was going to cry when talking about the ship Columbia.

It was plain to see he had a real love for her.

[NonValueAdded]

I heard rather than saw Crippen's remarks. Here is what Florida Today has:

“There’s heavy grief in our hearts, which will diminish with time, but it will never go away, and we won’t ever forget,” Crippen said, choking up as he called out the first names of the seven astronauts: Commander Rick Husband, pilot Willie McCool, payload commander Michael Anderson, payload specialist Ilan Ramon, and mission specialists Dave Brown, Kalpana “K.C.” Chawla and Laurel Clark.

The article also says 'A few drops of rain sent a wave of restlessness through the crowd, but the sun brightened the stage briefly as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush spoke.'

I've experienced the few drops of rain on more than one occasion at graveside or memorial services. I look upon it as God sharing a few tears with us. It is an immensely moving moment for me. I guess the author hasn't been similarly blessed.

I also heard the T-38's as the came up the coast prior to the fly-over. The modern sound of freedom.

See Thousands at KSC honor Columbia's 7 heroes for the local print coverage of the service.

[The Right Stuff]

I watched all three memorial services and this one was one of the most moving. It's so obvious how much the astronauts were valued by the KSC and NASA crowd - and how much they loved Columbia.

If you were there, you have my great sympathies on your horrid loss.

[snopercod]

I was recording it, but had to leave the room because I seemed to have something in my eye. I left KSC three years ago, and know first hand what those good people are going through.

Maybe tomorrow I will be able to watch the entire ceremony. (I saw some of my former co-workers on the video.)

[snopercod]

Crip flew STS-1. He and John Young have cohones muy grandes, and know all about tile damage.

[snopercod]

I also heard the T-38's as the came up the coast prior to the fly-over. The modern sound of freedom.

The NASA camerapeople totally missed the missing man formation. They were panning around trying to figure out what all that noise was. It was an embarassment.

[summer]

RE your post #6 - Joe, I can understand your feeling of frustration at not getting an immediate response. It is possible he may have wanted to gather some information before writing back to you.

I also wrote to him, this morning, about your concern, and I will post his response.

In addition, I checked his online publicly posted calendar, and he is in Miami all day today, working, in meetings, and briefings, and attending events, throughout the morning, afternoon and evening.

In the meantime, here is the FL Dept of Agriculture web site about citrus canker. Perhaps there is something of interest to you on this web site. Perhaps not.

FL Dept of Agriculture - Citrus canker web site

[summer]

Thanks for bumping this thread, conservatism_IS_compassion.

[summer]

Thanks for your nice post on this thread, lucky7.

[summer]

Thanks so much for your posts #8 and #9, getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL.