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Home , Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark

Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Feb. 1 151

we will do so with the compassion and gen- covery and the longing to understand. Our erosity that have always defined the United journey into space will go on. States. In the skies today we saw destruction and Thank you for listening. 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 NOTE: The address was recorded at 9:43 a.m. on January 31 in the Cabinet Room at the White the heavens. Who created all these? He who House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February brings out the starry hosts one by one and 1. The transcript was made available by the Office calls them each by name. Because of His of the Press Secretary on January 31 but was em- great power and mighty strength, not one of bargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office them is missing.’’ of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- The same Creator who names the stars guage transcript of this address. also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Colum- bia Address to the Nation on the Loss of did not return safely to Earth. Yet we can pray that all are safely home. Columbia May God bless the grieving families, and , 2003 may God continue to bless America. My fellow Americans, this day has brought NOTE: The President spoke at 2:04 p.m. in the terrible news and great sadness to our coun- Cabinet Room at the White House. The Office try. At 9 o’clock this morning, Mission Con- of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- guage transcript of this address. trol in lost contact with our . A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above . Proclamation 7646—Honoring the The Columbia is lost. There are no survivors. Memory of the Aboard On board was a crew of seven: Col. Rick Space Shuttle Columbia Husband; Lt. Col. Michael Anderson; Comdr. ; Capt. David Brown; February 1, 2003 Comdr. William McCool; Dr. Kalpana By the President of the Chawla; and , a colonel in the of America . These men and women as- sumed great risk in the service to all human- A Proclamation ity. As a mark of respect for Rick Douglas In an age when space flight has come to Husband, William C. McCool, Laurel Blair seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook Salton Clark, , Michael P. the dangers of travel by rocket and the dif- Anderson, David M. Brown, and Ilan Ramon ficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmos- who gave their lives during the mission of phere of the Earth. These astronauts knew STS–107 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia the dangers, and they faced them willingly, on February 1, 2003, I hereby order, by the knowing they had a high and noble purpose authority vested in me as President of the in life. Because of their courage and daring United States of America by the Constitution and idealism, we will miss them all the more. and the laws of the United States of America, All Americans today are thinking as well that the flag of the United States shall be of the families of these men and women who flown at half-staff at the White House and have been given this sudden shock and grief. upon all public buildings and grounds, at all You’re not alone. Our entire Nation grieves military posts and naval stations, and on all with you. And those you loved will always naval vessels of the Federal Government in have the respect and gratitude of this coun- the District of Columbia and throughout the try. United States and its Territories and posses- The cause in which they died will con- sions through Wednesday, February 5, 2003. tinue. Mankind is led into the darkness be- I also direct that the flag shall be flown at yond our world by the inspiration of dis- half-staff for the same length of time at all

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