Welcome dinner for Discovery
My husband Bob Pound and I attended the "Welcome Space Shuttle Discovery" dinner at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on May 1.
What a special evening it was, especially for Bob, who had a career of 28 years at Kennedy Space Center as a NASA manager.
He spent much of that time as branch chief of NASA Shuttle Operations in the Orbiter Processing Facility and the NASA Test Directors Office in the Launch Control Center.
It was a thrill to see the honored place Discovery will occupy in the Space section of the Smithsonian Air & Space facility located next to Dulles Airport, outside Washington, DC.
About 160 guests were ushered toward a 50-foot gossamer curtain as we gathered for the dinner. retired General John R. Dailey, USMC, director for the National Air and Space Museum, lead us in the familiar "T-minus 10" countdown.
Accompanied by celebratory music, the curtain parted to reveal radiantly glowing Discovery in her final mission setting.
We were encouraged to hear that Discovery's mission is not over, as she will teach and inspire those who see her and learn of the many accomplishments during her faithful service of 39 missions.
NASA administrator Gen. Charles Bolden, one of several former astronauts in attendance, spoke briefly about his efforts to have Discovery be part of the exhibits at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
Dr. G. Wayne Clough, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, shared the vision of how Discovery and the numerous other historical aviation and space giants at Udvar-Hazy will be part of ongoing programs to encourage future generations to reach above and beyond in the skies and into space.
As an extra bonus to our trip, we were seated next to a very pleasant gentleman on the flight up to D.C.
After talking with him about where we were going that evening, he seemed to share our interest and enthusiasm for the space program. When I asked his name, he rather humbly handed me his card. Bob's eyes got very big when he realized and then recognized this was retired Gen. James Abrahamson. Gen. Abrahamson has been the Associate Administrator of NASA's space shuttle program in the early 1980s. He and Bob really enjoyed sharing remembrances of those years.
I am fairly sure we were the only Titusville or Brevard residents at the event. We wanted to share a little about it to assure space coast space enthusiast that Discovery is being well respected and honored in her new home. And more importantly, her legacy will continue to foster thousands of others to be proud of our nation's accomplishments in space and perhaps awaken in some the vision to continue mankind's exploration of the heavens.
For more information on how to become a member of the Smithsonian's Legacy Society, or to make a gift to support the National Air and Space Museum, please contact Jessica McNally in the Office of Advancement at (202) 633-2617 or mcnallyj@si.edu or visit http://airandspace.si.edu/getinvolved/giving/.
Janice and Bob Pound Titusville
What a mess our country is in
Well in order to gain more votes, our president is again doing his famous flip-flops. Whatever it takes. And isn't it sad that all these groups just don't get it. Obama will say or do anything to get re-elected.
I find it hard to believe that all these women are dumb enough to believe the Republicans hate women.
The unemployment rate is the highest among women than it has ever been.
We have the highest debt ever with Obama, and that is just the beginning: the highest unemployment, highest gas prices, highest food stamp payments ever and on and on.
This administration killed our space program, and if that does not wake up all you liberals, nothing will.
He killed the Keystone pipe line which would have created 20,000 jobs and helped get us off foreign oil and all his programs like failed and cost us mega bucks. What don't you get?
I know, you liberals can still blame (President) Bush. Get over it and face what is happening in our country before it is to late.
This crooked Chicago regime has ignored our Constitution, gone around the Congress, gone around the Supreme Court and does whatever it wants.
If this does not scare you enough to wake up, then enjoy your Socialist country, because that is what is coming if Obama gets back in.
Now he is pandering to the college kids, and the increase in anything that has happened has been on Obama's watch.
Wise up. He fixed nothing in almost four years, and if you think your better off than you were four years ago, you sure are a pinhead.
Barbra Bronserg, Suntree
To the teachers and staff
These days, amid the rigid emphasis on standardized tests and tense political debates over teacher pay, it can be easy to lose sight of the amazing work performed quietly every day by teachers and school staff.
Thanks to a teacher, you can read this letter and balance your checkbook.
No matter what your profession - engineer, landscaper, doctor, housewife - teachers taught many skills you use daily.
If you think being a teacher is an easy task, look at it this way: if you had 25 people in your office demanding your time and attention, each with different needs and a few misbehaving, could you treat all of them with professional excellence all day every day for nine months? Our teachers do that, and so much more.
It is said that the best teachers teach from the heart.
At Indialantic Elementary School, the teachers and staff prove they are the best in so many ways.
They arrive at school early and stay late. They use personal time to create extracurricular activities and clubs for the students, to volunteer at school events or to beautify school grounds with new landscaping or colorful mosaics.
Teachers and staff have bought shoes or school supplies for students who have none. They show our children in so many ways how much they care.
To the teachers and staff at Indialantic Elementary School and everywhere, thank you for all you do.
Tina Descovich, Indialantic Parent Teacher Organization