Natalie Brooks - Age 12
		Britthney Varner - Age 11
		Paige Ann Herring - Age 12
		Stephanie Johnson - Age 12
		Shannon Wright - Age 32, Teacher        A Mother of a two-year old who        shielded another mother's child        with her body, giving her own        life so that the other mother's        child would live.

I'm looking back to see you the last time I ever will. Your face is froze in terror and your body is so still. I wish I could have told you how much you mean to me. And for you to be gone it's so hard for me to see. In Heaven there are lights all angels carry with them there. You take your light and together we will share. God will keep you safe and out of harm's way. My emotions are too hard just to write or to say. You have your little light and take it with you where you go. Someday we'll meet again I just wanted you to know. The memories I have of that awful sunny day. When you went out for safety and your life was took away. When I learned that you had died I sat down and had myself a good long cry. But then I remembered the little lights I'd heard of. In our hearts we'll always carry your love. The times we shared were wonderful, and in heaven I know you're a precious jewel. You brought joy to this world wherever you went. When God took you we knew what he meant. The angels in Heaven are always busy there to watch us mourn for you. They all really care. Today in Heaven New Angels came to him but to all us on earth lights are very dim. But then I tell everyone to think about the light. We all go back to think about tonight. The light that you carry I will always see. Even when the light is dimmed I'll know what it means to me. The light you have will help along the way. I wish you could have stayed.

by Heather, Age 12 - Jonesboro, Arkansas

One day your life was taken away
but don't worry those killers will pay.
It was just so soon
then you life just burst like a balloon.
You were so innocent and sweet
but we never knew a bullet you would meet.
It is just not fair
and all Mitchell and Andrew can do is stare.

I was scared and hoping everyone was alive
but why did you have to die?
But I know you are smiling down and giving love
from the golden gates above.

But now it is time to say goodbye
but all I ask is why?
I will tell everyone to be brave
as I see the flowers on your grave.

Mrs. Wright, Paige, Stephanie, Natalie and Britthney so sweet and kind
but why did you have to leave us behind?
Why did you leave so soon
leaving our lives in gloom?

March 24th the day your life was taken away
no one will ever forget that day.
But as I see the white Ribbons fly I remember your face and know you are safe from harm up in heaven in God's arms.
--Tessa Loyd

Credits: The Animated Dove Image was done by Redwood Productions

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	Remembering the Columbia February 01, 2003

David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, Michael P. Anderson, Ilan Ramon,
Rick D. Husband, Kalpana Chawla, and William 'Willie' C. McCool

David M. Brown	Age 46. Mission Specialist from Arlington, Virginia. "He was always so curious," his mother, Dorothy Brown, remembered.
Laurel B. Clark	Age 41. Mission Specialist from Racine, Wisconsin. "Do what it is you love to do," she said. "You’ll do a really good job at it because you love it, and you’ll be doing something that you love."
Michael P. Anderson	Age 43. Payload Commander from Spokane, Washington. "Michael’s desire was to get into space, and he made it a reality," his mother says. "He was doing what he loved."
Ilan Ramon	Age 48. Payload Specialist from Israel. Born in Tel Aviv and raised in Beer Sheva, Ramon was Israel's first astronaut.
Rick D. Husband	Age 45. Commander from Amarillo, Texas. While in space, he wrote, "I’m so proud of my crew, I could pop."
Kalpana Chawla	Age 41. Mission Specialist from Seabrook, Texas. Chawla immigrated to America from India. A student from her old school in Karnal, India with tears running down her cheeks said, "She told us to dream, She loved us so much."
William 'Willie' C. McCool	Age 41. Pilot from San Diego, California. "Whatever he decided to do, Willie did it to perfection," recalls U.S. Naval Academy classmate Mark Patterson.

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	Remembering the Challenger January 28, 1986

Ellison S. Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, Judith A. Resnik,
Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, and Ronald E. McNair

Ellison S. Oizuka	Age 39. An aerospace engineer from Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii. "I'll be looking at Halley's comet. They tell me I'll have one of the best views around."
Christa McAuliffe	Age 37. A high-school teacher from Concord, New Hampshire. "What are we doing here? We're reaching for the stars."
Gregory B. Jarvis	Age 41. An electrical engineer from Detroit, Michigan. "You look at an astronaut, who is just about a perfect human being, and here you are, your hair falling out, and they call you."
Judith A. Resnik	Age 36. An electrical engineer from Akron, Ohio and the second American woman in space. To a friend after turning 30: "I'll never get old."
Michael J. Smith	Age 40. A pilot from Beaufort, North Carolina. "I can never remember anything I wanted to do but fly."
Francis R. Scobee	Age 46. A pilot from Cle Elum, Washington. "When you're willing to risk the consequences . . . you probably ought to do it."
Ronald E. McNair	Age 35. A laser physicist from Lake City, South Carolina and the second black American in space. "You can only become a winner if you are willing to walk over the edge."

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things . . .
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high, untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
-- John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

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	Remembering our American Veterans They sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy

We must never forget the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives, that have suffered physical and mental injuries, and that have suffered as prisoners of war in order to protect and preserve the freedom and self-rule that we enjoy today. It is our sacred duty to remember them and continually being grateful for their infinite sacrifices. One of our favorite vacation sites is Branson, Missouri. I've always been impressed that every show has a special part that honors the memory of those that have sacrificed and also honors the veterans that are in the audience. I've chosen images of the postage stamps that have been issued to honor the different roles that veterans have served and are serving today. The last image is a picture from Life Magazine of the sinking USS Wasp that has special meaning to me because my father was on that ship at that time. He survived and later made notations on the picture of where the different torpedoes hit. The picture illustrates to me in a personal way the sacrifices that have been made so that you and I can enjoy a free and peaceful life.

Thank you to all Vets.
 

My father, Robert M. Tims, served aboard the USS Wasp as a parachute rigger. He saved the picture from a copy of Life Magazine. He survived the sinking and retired from the U.S. Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer and currently rests at the Arlington National Cemetery.

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