Statement by President Bush

SpaceFlightNow ^ | Feb. 1, 2003 | Unknown

[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.

[conservativecorner]

God bless President Bush and God Bless America!!!

[Pippin]

God bless you for posting this speach.

[TankerKC]

A sad day.

[prairiebreeze]

God has taken them Home. They now rest in the "Everlasting Arms".

Prayers to their families and friends.

[Miss Marple]

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.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you.

[11B3]

Thank you for posting this.

[Miss Marple]

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.

[McLynnan]

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.

[MadIvan]

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

[still lurking]

Thank you.

Safely home...

Our hope is not in vain.

[dansangel]

My thanks to both of you. May the souls of our astronauts rest in eternal peace.

[Guillermo]

The ACLU has filed suit over his mention of God and the prohpet Isaiah.

[Brett66]

Come to think of it, I don't think any president has went through such national tragedy since WW2.

[M Kehoe]

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

[justshe]

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.

[oldcodger]

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).

[MadIvan]

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

[MeekMom]

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!

[upchuck]

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!