Radiofree West Hartford -- When Heroes Die by Tom Evers

THE CROW'S NEST:

When Heroes Die

By Tom Evers

January 28, 2003

I, like most Americans, spent Saturday morning glued to my television watching the horrifying shuttle disaster. When I had first heard that NASA had lost contact with the shuttle Columbia, I assumed the worst. Minutes later, the NASA director could be heard over the Mission Control audio box - he was speaking of a contingency plan which included sending out search teams. I had a feeling that this wasn't going to turn out like the scene in Apollo 13 - there would be no celebration and jubilation in the control room today.

My worst fears were confirmed when amateur video showed what appeared to be a fireball breaking up into pieces followed by several streaming vapor trails. Right then and there, I knew that seven more human beings had "touched the face of God."

The United States Space Program has a special place in the hearts and minds of Americans. We are people who thrive on imagination - not simply because we grew up with Star Trek and Star Wars - but because Americans are people who think "out of the box", seeing creative ways to do things; we also dare to do what others think is the impossible. We see limitless possibilities, and we are driven by the desire to understand the unknown. Our space program is comprised of adventurers, scientists, technology experts, and engineers - all experts, all our finest people. And our astronauts are true heroes - manning spacecraft into the final frontier.

This is the second shuttle tragedy since the introduction of the fleet in the 1970s. The first disaster was also horrific, millions watched Challenger explode 15 seconds after lift-off. We remember the somber video of the smiling crew walking out of the preparation building and waving to the camera. The wave felt so personal. We also remember Ronald Reagan's powerful speech to the Nation that night. Reagan said: "The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."

Yesterday's incident reopened the sad memories of that sad day in 1981. Seven more heroes had perished before our eyes.

Both missions shared an interesting element - special crewmembers of significance. The Challenger crew included teacher Christie McCauliffe, a teacher and civilian, and Columbia's crew included Ilan Roman, an Israeli military officer. This mission marked the first joint venture between Israel and the United States.

It didn't take long for the Iraqi Government to comment on the tragedy. While Russia, France, Canada and Mexico called President Bush to offer condolences, Reuters news agency reported that Iraqi Government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said after hearing of the incident, "We are happy that it broke up."

"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said.

It takes a sick and pathetic mind to make this kind of comment. Perhaps soon Iraqis will have plenty of questions for God should they continue to violate UN sanctions. But I'll leave that discussion for another day.

As the Columbia tragedy continued through the afternoon, we saw our Nation's leader, President George Bush address the Nation. He had just come from speaking with the families of the astronauts. His staff members reported that he was so shaken by the disaster that he had to retire alone to the Oval Office to regain his composure. By now the world knows of George Bush's genuinely large heart and sense of compassion.

President Bush gave a truly dignified speech to the Nation on Saturday afternoon. The President said:

"…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… "

The President's deep faith and conviction is a model for the Nation. In times of tragedy and darkness, he finds strength and comfort in God. As a leader, he sets a good example for the Nation to follow. His tears are real (unlike former President Clinton's phony performance, caught on tape at Secretary Brown's funeral service a few years ago), and he shares the Nation's grief. It's fitting to have a leader like Bush, who has the moral obligation to set that National tone; it's refreshing that he is real and his words therefore legitimate. Nearly Reaganesque in resolve, but with the Bush style that we commoners have all come to admire and understand.

Over the next few months, I expect that we will see political posturing, endless hearings, finger pointing and a hundred and one negative attacks on the space program and people associated with the program. As sad as it is, this is what usually happens when an "incident" occurs. The very nature of the space program will be questioned by nay Sayers and the uninformed. NASA officials should not shy away from this debate; they should use this opportunity to explain the American people the perfectly justified reasons for our Space Program.

NASA officials should parade out the benefits and solid results of 20 plus years of the agency's scientific experiments, defense operations, and all elements of space research. They should show the American people and Congress why we must renew and recommit resources and increase the budget for the space program; and they must do so in simple terms that ordinary people can understand. This means dropping space jargon from the discussion. This means finding new ways to reach out beyond the boundaries of Johnson Space Center and Cape Canaveral to the average American. NASA has a wonderful story to tell, and its up to them to make their case.

In the meantime, we will mourn our fallen heroes: Mission Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist David Brown, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialists Laurel Clark and Kalpana Chawla and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.

Our fallen heroes are gone. America is indebted to their bravery and sacrifice. May God in Heaven find a special place for their souls, may he grant your families solace and peace.

Tom Evers