Page A12 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com In addition, the three Columbia astronauts whose remains could be identified individually have individual gravesites near the memorial. Captain David Brown, U.S. Navy: Section 46, Grave 1180-3; Captain Laurel Blair Salton Clark, M.D., U.S. Navy: Section 46, Grave 11802; and Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson, U.S. Air Force: Section 46, Grave 1180-1. Remembering these men and women, along with those who died in the Apollo I launchpad fire in 1967 and the Challenger explosion in 1986, remind us how risky space flight is and how much we respect their courage. Observations “Rockets by their nature, are complex and unforgiving vehicles.” —NASA Columbia Accident Investigative Board Nacogdoches, “The Oldest Town in Texas,” made history again on February 1, 2003. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107, exploded 39 miles above them and rained debris and human remains over a large area. It was a day of immense tragedy that this town will never forget. On the morning of February 1, a large boom was heard over the Texas town. When residents looked to the sky, they saw several smoke trails pulling away from each other. Some thought two jets may have struck each other and were falling downward. But others knew the objects were too large to be jets. Television news began to broadcast the news that Columbia had disintegrated in its final journey into the atmosphere. Nacogdoches County Constable Tony Jasso was aware of the explosion and called his wife Peggy, who was an employee of Commercial Bank. He told her there was a large piece of metal behind the bank, and he believed it to be from Columbia. Many residents reported hearing the explosion and finding debris. NASA was notified and asked local law enforcement to preserve the discovery areas. Approximately 1,200 pieces reportedly fell in Nacogdoches. Tommy Patterson was working in his garden in Littlefield, Texas. He saw a shiny piece of burned metal and showed it to his wife Jean. They called the sheriff and had asked to keep the piece, but NASA asked for it back. Columbia was the first space shuttle to fly, named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, and made its maiden flight in April 1981. Columbia launched its 28th flight on January 16, 2003, with a seven-member crew and a busy schedule of experiments. At 7:30 AM, the shuttle crew was driven to launch site. After being elevated 195 feet up, Commander Rick Husband entered the shuttle first. At 10:39 AM, Columbia left the launch pad. At 81.7 seconds after liftoff, a piece of foam broke off the external tank and hit the shuttle’s left wing. The foam came from part of a structure that attaches the external tank to the shuttle, called a bipod ramp. The damage to the wing was hard to determine but there was no immediate danger, and the damage would be investigated before its return. Over the next 15 days in orbit, over 80 international scientific experiments were conducted, the crew working constantly, in alternating shifts. By day 8, Mission Control had studied the photos from By Steven Palmer the foam strike on the wing and concluded that there was “no concern for RCC or tile damage.” The Intercenter Photo Working Group had concerns about the impact injuries, and the Debris Assessment Team thought that the heat damage might occur but did not state that structural damage would result. The phenomenon had been seen in other launches, and Mission Control finally determined there was “absolutely no concern for entry.” On February 1, at 8:10 AM (EST) the shuttle crew was okayed for de-orbit burn, and Columbia reentered the earth’s atmosphere at 8:44 AM. By 8:53 AM, after passing the California coast, debris was sighted falling off the shuttle. The structure damage led to the loss of control and breakup of the shuttle. The debris fell at a speed of up to 12,000 miles an hour in a broad trail fromWest Texas to Louisiana, with its center in East Texas and the Nacogdoches area. Citizens were warned not to touch the debris, both because the pieces could be dangerous, and because officials would need to document the trail of debris. Amazingly, no one was injured by falling debris and little damage to property was reported. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board concluded that “the breach in the Thermal Protection System allowed superheated air to penetrate the leading-edge insulation and progressively melt the aluminum structure of the left wing, resulting in a weakening of the structure until increasing aerodynamic forces caused loss of control, failure of the wing, and breakup of the orbiter.” The damage done during liftoff let in heat at reentry that melted the structure. But why the foam pieces came off the tank to strike the wing may never be known. The left wing broke up due to high heat and aerodynamic forces. The right wing was lost due to just aerodynamic forces. The crew module was destroyed in a period of 24 seconds beginning at 140,000 feet and ending at 105,000 feet. As the cabin lost compression, the crew quickly became unconscious. We remember the Columbia crew: Commander Rick Husband, 45; Pilot William McCool, 41; Payload Commander Michael Anderson, 43; Kalpana Chawla, 41; David Brown, 46; Laurel Clark, 41; and Ilan Ramon, 48, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force and the first Israeli in space. At Arlington National Cemetery, NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, accompanied by more than 400 family members, former astronauts, and friends, dedicated a memorial to the crew of STS-107 Columbia on February 2, 2004. Standing just a few feet away from the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, the marker features a silhouette of the space shuttle imprinted with the names of the astronauts, surrounded by seven stars. Almost Home, Always Remembered Steven Palmer entered funeral service in 1971. He is an honors graduate of the New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences. He has been licensed on both coasts, he owned theWestcott Funeral Homes of Cottonwood and Camp Verde, AZ, where he remains active in operations. Steve offers his observations on current funeral service issues. Hemay be reachedbymail at POBox 352, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, by phone at (928)634-9566, by fax at (928)634-5156, by e-mail at steve@westcottfuneralhome.comor throughhiswebsite at www.westcottfuneralhome.com or on Facebook. F U N E R A L H O M E & C E M E T E R Y N E W S w w w . N o m i s P u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m Monthly Columnsonline at “Their mission was almost complete, and we lost them so close to home. The men and women of the Columbia had journeyed more than 6 million miles and were minutes away from arrival and reunion. The loss was sudden and terrible, and for their families, the grief is heavy. Our nation shares in your sorrow and in your pride. And today we remember not only one moment of tragedy, but seven lives of great purpose and achievement.” —President George W. Bush, leading a Memorial Service for the Columbia Astronauts’ families on February 4, 2003 at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. Memorial Home, Inc. contributes to many community organizations that support the Central Pennsylvania area. Continuing the vision, Angela has been actively serving the community for more than 25 years. “It’s not just a job, it’s about service, community and sacrifice” says Angela of her role as funeral director. Service is a calling, and it is not taken lightly or for granted. My families expect and get a level of care that includes not only professionalism, but empathy and special care for the ones they love. It is trust, a sense of peace, that they know we are there for them, and we will give our very best in whatever type of service they choose. At Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. we celebrate the life of each loved one, it is not just a funeral but a celebration of their life. We serve with compassion and respect and that has allowed us a reputation for over 100 years as ‘A family business with family sensitivity.” The current location is a 15,000 square foot facility with two chapels, parking for over 100 vehicles, conference rooms, offices, casket and urn showrooms, cooling and preservation room, video-streaming-recording technology center and The Millicent Hooper Foundation banquet facility. Not only has she experienced the passing of Millicent and Lance, but she lost her youngest son a little over two years ago. Angela also has two other children, Jonathan and Amanda who also work in the business. Through her own grieving she continued to serve her families stating, “I’m standing with you and beside you. That’s the difference Hooper’s makes.” Hooper Memorial Home Continued from Page A2 “DUNCAN STUART TODD KNEWWHAT WE NEEDED.THEY MADE IT SIMPLE IN HAVINGTHE TOTAL PACKAGE.” -THEWOOD MORTUARY PREPARATION ROOM Design + Equipment 720 - 583 - 1 886 info@duncanstuarttodd.com www.duncanstuarttodd.com SINCE 1991 “The homeless community is often not seen,” says Angela, adding that they try to be connected with those less fortunate. “It’s a responsibility for all of us. Some people talk the talk, and some people walk the walk.” Hooper
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