Posted on 02/04/2003 10:12:44 AM PST by yonif
February 3rd, 2003
In an outpouring of support for the Ramon family thousands of poems, prayers and tributes have flooded in from individuals around the globe including e-mails from India, Argentina, Denmark, Australia, Iran, Germany, Ireland, France and from the Palestinian Authority.
People of different religions, backgrounds, and political beliefs united to send their condolences following the death of Israel's first astronaut, Colonel Ilan Ramon. At present, over 10,000 e-mails addressed to Col. Ramon's family have been posted to the IDF website condolence book expressing the public's sorrow and pride and their respect for Col. Ramon.
The following is a small selection of the e-mails received. The e-mails will be presented to the Ramon family, upon their return to Israel.
From NASA:
We are sending you our heartfelt condolences. Ilan was our pride and our hope. Ilan lived for us and Ilan died for us. His memory will live in Jewish history!
Poem, sent by a resident of Texas:
Seven Stars
Lit the Columbia blue
Of Texas skies
And flashed Heavenward
To eternity
Bearing souls
And heroes
With the memory
Of families left behind.
Soaring eagles
On the six point
'Star of David'
From an Iranian student:
Please accept my heartfelt condolences on this terrible tragedy. My prayers are with you and the families of all the brave men and women who lost their lives for mankind. There is no greater love than this, when a man lays down his life for his neighbor. I'm a 27 year old Iranian woman student from Teheran and wish to let you know that the Iranian people also feel the depth of your pain on this devastating incident. Anywhere human beings suffer, we all suffer as a whole, whether we realize it or not, and this tragedy is no exception. Your loved one is in the arms of our loving G-d now, his creator, and may you be comforted knowing that there can be no better place than that. G-d bless you and keep you in the shadow of the angels who returned to him.
From India:
In this moment of grief, please be assured that the prayers and wishes of the people of India are with you. Col. Ilan Ramon and Kalpana Chawla will always be remembered as heroes who gave hope to our countries.
May G-d Bless you.
From New Zealand:
My Family and I are deeply sad at this terrible loss. Today our 11 year old son is going into hospital for his third operation on his bowel in three weeks. To us the loss of a son is a fear, but to you it is real. We pray for your smiles to return. Your son was a hero.
From a Pastor and his congregation in England:
We heard with deep sorrow of the tragic accident which took from you the light of your life. Ilan was an example to us all, even outside his own country. He was a husband and father to be proud of. We grieve with you in your loss and will keep you all in our prayers to the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Finland:
What sadness! We feel for your loss, as it is the world's loss.
Argentina:
I understand and share your deep sorrow. We honor Ilan's memory, considering him to be a great symbol for future and for hope. He is a great metaphor of courage and the human potential to go beyond, always beyond. He is a great model. I understand that you miss him. This is your donation to the Human race in this difficult historical period. Be high, be generous, be worthy of your magnificent father.
Las Palmas, Canary Islands:
We feel GREAT SORROW for the loss of Ilan Ramon: He was a model of perfection, humanity, knowledge and valor. He led the way. In our family, we felt his participation in the shuttle mission as if it was our own. I want you to know that we feel very close to you.
Panama:
Ilan is my hero. You are very lucky that Ilan was part of your family. Know that he is close to G-d with a job to do. All my heart goes out to you
US Citizen of Arab origin:
I would like to express my deepest condolences to your family and the State of Israel. Great men like Ilan Ramon never die. May G-d bless his family, his wife and children.
Ireland:
Condolences on the death of your beloved. Through these times of grief let it be known that others offer their hearts to you. He was a hero, a man of greatness who shone like a star. He also died as a star, a man who is immortalized in history, a lucky man who died doing what he loved most. I know your grief is heartbreaking but he will be remembered as one of the greatest men of the twenty-first century, a shining example of all that is good from Israel's sons. My heart goes out to you all.
France:
On behalf of myself and my family, I wish to send you my sincerest condolences for your Colonel Ilan Ramon. I live in France and was deeply affected by the death of this great Colonel from the Israeli Air Force. I believe that he was an exceptional man, and you can be proud of him. I have a young baby of eight months, and if one day he grows up to be like Col. Ramon, I will have succeeded my mission in life.
Like a soldier he has done his duty while aware of the risk and will always be remembered.
Italy:
Please accept my deepest condolences for Ilan's death. May he be blessed forever.
Belgium:
On behalf of my whole family, I would like to extend my sympathy to Ilan Ramon's wife and children, as well as to the people of Israel. As well as being a brilliant scientist, Ilan was a humanist, who wanted but one thing, to live in peace. He is an example for us all. We are all united in sharing your pain. More than ever, it is a time to be united.
Nablus, West Bank: Palestinian resident of
We all in Nablus, send our hearty condolences to the Ramon family and the Israeli people, on the loss of Col. Ilan Ramon in the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy. Ilan is a courageous person who lost his life for the sake of humankind. May G-d bless you all and may all of us work for peace and love in the holy land and for the sake of human kind.
Palestinian resident of Bethlehem, West Bank:
I'm very sorry that your son died in this tragic event. It is a big loss for the world to lose an astronaut like Mr. Ramon and his friends. I hope to see him again in the Paradise that G-d promised us. I hope you accept my condolences.
Poem, USA:
An Israeli Pilot Burns in the Skies of Texas
Another Hebrew met his fate
In fire, this time in the clouds;
All the emergencies are late,
The day belongs to mourning crowds.
He dreamt to be a shooting star,
To grant us all one sacred wish.
His mission done; the wish still far.
'tis time to bow and say Kaddish.
The seven brothers' last embrace,
The only way of greeting fate,
Was brief. By man and Holy Grace
Now Texas is the lone star state.
The time will come to start afresh,
This life, next life, another Rome
But now my nation's burning flesh
Still falling on my Texas home.
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