Remembering the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia


As star systems around us still give birth
A blanket of stillness engulfs this earth.
An ever-endless sea of black called night
Countless worlds, a billion dots of light.

Then from this small dot the pioneers came
With hopes and dreams, and all the acclaim.
Shot through the clouds with incredible pace
Through the roof of the sky then outer space.

--Pioneers through space, through the heavens on high
as wonderful secrets were sought.
--They slipped from the stars, they fell from the sky
Now gone from us, yet not forgot.

Their mission complete, all tasks were done
It was time to go home, relax and have fun.
The world roared out, the seven were cheered
A short flight home as re-entry was cleared.

Flashes, explosions and falling debris
They fell from the sky for all to see.
We suffered as they rode a fiery tomb
Such heroes that face inevitable doom.

--Pioneers through space, through the heavens on high
as wonderful secrets were sought.
--They slipped from the stars, they fell from the sky
now gone from us, yet not forgot.

A sustained anguish from lessons taught
They are gone from us, yet not forgot.


Rick D. Husband
William C. McCool
Michael P. Anderson
LLan Ramon
Kalpana Chawla
David M. Brown
Laurel Clark

"The cause in which they died will continue
Our journey into space will go on."
                                                  President Bush