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Statement by President Bush
SpaceFlightNow ^
| Feb. 1, 2003
| Unknown
Posted on 02/01/2003 2:18:17 PM PST by conservativecorner
My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.
On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.
In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
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.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.
TOPICS: Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: columbiatragedy; feb12003; nasa; spaceshuttle
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God bless President Bush and God Bless America!!!
To: conservativecorner
God bless you for posting this speach.
2
posted on
02/01/2003 2:20:50 PM PST
by
Pippin
(May God bless and comfort the familys and friends of the Columbia shuttle crew!)
To: conservativecorner
A sad day.
3
posted on
02/01/2003 2:20:55 PM PST
by
TankerKC
(If all else fails, blame it on a lack of patriotism.)
To: conservativecorner
God has taken them Home. They now rest in the "Everlasting Arms".
Prayers to their families and friends.
4
posted on
02/01/2003 2:34:36 PM PST
by
prairiebreeze
("We won't deny, ignore or pass our problems along to other Presidents" --GWBush)
To: conservativecorner; A Citizen Reporter; ABG(anybody but Gore); acnielsen guy; Angelwood; ...
Thank you for posting this. I am pinging those who will be interested in reading the transcript of President Bush's beautiful speech. May God bless those on the Columbia, and may God bless their families.
To: Miss Marple
Thank you.
To: conservativecorner
Thank you for posting this.
7
posted on
02/01/2003 2:44:59 PM PST
by
11B3
To: Brad's Gramma
You are welcome. I happened to see this while at my son's home. We all watched, even my 6 and 4 year old grandchildren. He spoke from the heart, and he spoke well.
I am so thankful to God that he is the President.
To: Miss Marple; conservativecorner
Thank you for the ping. How fitting that W spoke of the stars because the astronauts were definitely stars in their own right. I'm praying for our President because he has emotional days ahead of him and the families are in need of his comfort.
9
posted on
02/01/2003 2:46:38 PM PST
by
McLynnan
To: Miss Marple
I am so thankful to God that he is the President. He will be remembered as a President who carried the pain of the world on his shoulders. He had a terrorist attack, a war, and now this disaster to deal with. At the end of his two terms, he will deserve a good long rest.
He has, already, eclipsed his father.
Regards, Ivan
10
posted on
02/01/2003 2:48:00 PM PST
by
MadIvan
To: Miss Marple
Thank you.
Safely home...
Our hope is not in vain.
To: Miss Marple; conservativecorner
My thanks to both of you. May the souls of our astronauts rest in eternal peace.
12
posted on
02/01/2003 2:48:33 PM PST
by
dansangel
(God Bless President Bush - God Bless America!)
To: conservativecorner
The ACLU has filed suit over his mention of God and the prohpet Isaiah.
13
posted on
02/01/2003 2:55:38 PM PST
by
Guillermo
(Sic 'Em)
To: MadIvan
Come to think of it, I don't think any president has went through such national tragedy since WW2.
14
posted on
02/01/2003 2:58:04 PM PST
by
Brett66
To: Miss Marple
The President's hair is much more gray than when I saw him during the campaign. Imho, the pay isn't worth the responsibility. Then again, what do I know?
5.56mm
15
posted on
02/01/2003 2:58:07 PM PST
by
M Kehoe
To: Miss Marple; B-Chan
Don't think I'm on your 'ping list' but would like to be.
Freeper B-Chan posted this painting (she did this morning) and gave permission to post as we wish.
16
posted on
02/01/2003 3:02:29 PM PST
by
justshe
(Eliminate Freepathons! Become a monthly donor. Only YOU can prevent Freepathons!)
To: Miss Marple
Thank you for the ping. I didn't get to hear the President's remarks, so I turned to Free Republic to see what I could find. You made the search easy! I, too, am thankful for our President (and for Free Republic).
17
posted on
02/01/2003 3:03:41 PM PST
by
oldcodger
(who mourns our great loss)
To: Brett66
Come to think of it, I don't think any president has went through such national tragedy since WW2. If he is not thwarted in his plans, I suspect in years to come, I will be carrying around American money with President Bush's visage on it.
Regards, Ivan
18
posted on
02/01/2003 3:06:30 PM PST
by
MadIvan
To: oldcodger
Amen. For me, I just couldn't turn the tv on. And I needed some time to injest hearing the horror. God Bless our country, the hurt families, and FR!
19
posted on
02/01/2003 3:11:15 PM PST
by
MeekMom
(( Please visit http://CNLGLFG.com))
To: conservativecorner
The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.Very powerful. It's very refreshing to have a President that manages to inject a little reverence into every speech he makes.
God bless!
20
posted on
02/01/2003 3:22:23 PM PST
by
upchuck
(Prayer: †††††††)
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