SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER MEMORIAL

Beaufort Elementary
Washington, DC
March 2005

*Photos only

Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial
Thomas

What you need to know before you go
to the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial

Seventy-three seconds into the mission, the Challenger exploded and fell into the sea as all eyes of the world, including our small town of Beaufort looked on. The pilot, Michael J. Smith was born and reared in Beaufort, right next door of the airport where his career began, leading him to one of his dreams. At about 11:30 A.M. January 28, 1986, the Shuttle Challenger was launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Aboard the ship were it's Commander Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, it's pilot, Michael J. Smith, and it's crew, Christia McAuliffe (the first teacher in space), Mission Specialists, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnick and Ronald E. McNair; and Payload Gregory B. Jarvis.

On April 29, 1986, the identified remains that had been located were turned over to the astronauts' families for burial. However, there were a number of unidentified remains. These remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 20, 1986, Scobee and Michael Smith, redundant was buried in Section 7A, Grave 208, May 3, 1986, On May 19, 1986 Francis "Dick" Scobee's cremated remains were intered in Section 48, Grave 1129.

On June 12, 1986, the 99th Congress passes a concurrent resolution stating "the Secretary of the Army should construct and place in Arlington National Cemetery, a memorial marker honoring the seven members of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger" It was decided by family members and NASA to construct the monument over the cremated remains in Section 46. Family members of the seven Challenger astronauts and approximately 400 people attend the dedication ceremony on the morning of March 21, 1987, including the Vice President and Mrs. Barbara Bush, First Lady.

I chose this site to research for our Washington DC project because this memorial has a special meaning to me. Pilot Michael J. Smith was from our small town of Beaufort and I have become very close friends with Tony Smith one of Mike's two brothers, also of Beaufort. I was not born when this happened but I have been told by my family that the whole town was supporting him and was very proud of him persuing one of his dreams. His death was a great lost to all.

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