Memo from FL Gov. Jeb Bush: Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff

http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/showstory.jsp?sk=3417 ^ | Sat., Feb1, 2003 | Executive office of the FL Gov

[summer]

Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff

Memorandum from Governor Jeb Bush

Saturday, February 1, 2003

All flags on state property shall be flown at half-staff beginning Saturday, February 1, 2003 at 11 a.m. until sunset Friday, February 7, 2003 in honor of the crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Governor Jeb Bush has asked that all state and local government agencies lower their U.S. and state flags.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the Columbia crew.

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact the Governor's Office.

[summer]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the Columbia crew.

[OldFriend]

Amen

[anniegetyourgun]

Florida's Space Coast Worried for Future
By MIKE BRANOM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) -

The nation's space program transformed this area from a sleepy patch of orange groves and fishing communities into a bustling center for tourism and high-technology jobs.

After Saturday's shuttle disaster, Space Coast residents didn't need to be reminded how closely their fortunes are linked to the Kennedy Space Center. After another shuttle, Challenger, exploded just after takeoff in 1986, the region struggled to recover from the economic and emotional loss.

"You're going to see a lot of people out here lose their jobs," said David Moore, 46, of Cape Canaveral, a financial analyst who was watching a sailing regatta not far from the space center.

The space program is also one of the largest employers along the state's central Atlantic coast. NASA and its contractors - including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Space Alliance - account for about 16,000 jobs.

Many of the area's businesses, hotels and restaurants also depend heavily on tourists who visit the Kennedy Space Center.

After the Challenger accident, NASA put the shuttle program on hold until 1988, which meant the loss of thousands of jobs for engineers, technicians and others at aerospace companies and with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Those memories came back Saturday for several patrons gathered at Shuttles Bar and Grill in North Merritt Island, a popular restaurant where the walls are covered with memorabilia from the nation's space program.

Dean Morris, 41, had recently applied for a job at Kennedy Space Center, but was doubtful that he'd be hired after the disaster.

"This isn't going to be good," he said. "I think a lot of people are going to suffer."

Along Florida's Atlantic coast, businesses up and down A1A posted memorial messages on their marquees. "Our thoughts are with the crew of STS 107," read the message at Maine-ly Lobster. A local grill, Coconuts on the Beach, posted "God bless Colombia crew, our prayers are with you."

Earlier in the day, hundreds of visitors and residents had gathered along beaches and parks to await the landing of the space shuttle. John Berger, a 61-year-old retiree from Gilroy, Calif., and his wife joined about 200 people at Riverfront Park, a prime viewing area for shuttle launches and landings in Titusville.

"We figured something had gone wrong about twenty after nine. I looked at the wife and she looked at me and we both said 'Something's got to be wrong,'" Berger said.

NASA lowered the flag next to its countdown clock to half-staff. Several truck stops on Interstate 95 south of Cape Canaveral did the same. At the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex, stunned visitors crowded around Bill Pogue, an astronaut from Sky Lab 4, who had been scheduled to speak at the center Saturday.

"We will go on," Pogue told the crowd.

"It's a terrible tragedy, but you don't stop flying airplanes because an airplane crashed. You don't stop driving automobiles because you have an automobile accident. It's the same sort of thing, but it's that this is so dramatic, it tears at you emotionally," he said.

The visitor complex remained opened Saturday but guided tours of the Kennedy complex were canceled for the day. Later, more than 500 people gathered for a moment of silence around the Astronaut Memorial, a black granite wall etched with the names of astronauts killed in the line of duty. The memorial has one of the clearest views of the landing site.

"We've all hoped and prayed many times that no names would be added to this wall," said Stephen Feldman, president of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.

[LBGA]

Thanks for the ping. I am stunned, and so saddened.

I lived in Cape Canaveral from 1972-74 and was on base for the last moon launch (Apollo 19??). Then we saw the first shuttle launch from the beach. NASA is indeed a most important part of life there, and I am sorry for the families of the astronauts who died today, and all the people who are committed to space flight. Prayers for the families.

[MonroeDNA]

Thanks for the ping. A sad day for America.

I used to be stationed at the Cape in '86. Used to work on the communications sytems around all the launch complexes. Titusville is a good town, filled with good patriots.

My heart goes out to the families of those that died tody.

[summer]

Governor's Statement on Space Shuttle Columbia

Statement By:
GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
Regarding the Space Shuttle Columbia
Saturday, February 1, 2003

"Like all Americans, I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew this morning over Texas.

"We Floridians are especially proud that our astronauts, our modern-day adventurers, embark on their journeys from our own beloved shores. Our state hosts training and provides support to these astronauts and their families, and we feel a special connection to those who inspire all Americans. When they do not return to us, we are reminded that the spirit of exploration and discovery cannot be realized without great risk, and sometimes great sacrifice.

"To the families of those we lost today, Columba and I extend our deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with you."

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks.

BTW, who do you think he will replace Brogan with?

[summer]

I have no idea.

[summer]

FYI.

[Goldwater Girl]

*sigh*
I have read nearly every post on every shuttle thread today- Freepers showing their strength and compassion, sharing knowledge and memories, lashing out and looking to God.
It has been an exhausting day- so tragic and sad- but comforting to join with FRiends in time of need.
Thank you all for being here. This, too, shall pass.
GG

[katherineisgreat]

Umm. Sorry. The Russians don't have a better safety record. We found out after the cold war was over and files were released, that they had crews die on reentry at least more than once. They just made sure we didn't find out.

[katherineisgreat]

Thanks for the ping Summer. It's just... you can't imagine why anyone would want to be President these days. It's been one tragedy after another. It's good of Jeb to send these emails out.

[katherineisgreat]

We've had three space death accidents. Russia can't say the same. And while we can do better, we've had remarkably good results based on the odds for a long time.

[katherineisgreat]

Try these

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030117.html

http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/russia/piloted/oberg8810.htm

The last was 10/17/02:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/10/16/russia.soyuz/

[davidosborne]

BTTT !