FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2003
Contact:  Erin K. Kelly
(717) 846-2828
ekelly@pasen.gov
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State Senate Adopts Waugh Resolution Honoring The Crew Of Columbia

Harrisburg-In light of the tragic Columbia space shuttle disaster on February 1, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday introduced by Sen. Mike Waugh (R-28) honoring the seven brave crewmembers that lost their lives.

“Although this tragedy occurred far from our Commonwealth, I am sure that I speak for all Pennsylvanians when I say that we mourn deeply, because we as a country lost some of our best, our brightest and our boldest citizens,” said Waugh.

York County did however, have a special place on Columbia, as the shuttle carried a science experiment from St. John the Baptist Catholic Pre-School in New Freedom as part of NASA’s Space Experiment Module program.  The children sent tomato seeds, ordered through the American Seed Co. of Spring Grove, into space with intentions of planting the seeds upon their return and comparing their growth with seeds that were not sent into space. 

Despite the circumstances, Waugh is confident that Saturday’s tragedy will not prevent any child from continuing to explore and to learn. 

“These adventurous men and women embodied the spirit of this nation – the undaunted spirit of exploration.  For generations of Americans, space travel, with all of its perils and promises, has captured the imagination.  We have been united in our quest to go farther, and to learn more.”

Upon support, the Senate resolved that copies of the resolution be transmitted to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to be relayed to the families of the seven astronauts.