R 36

2003 -- H 5395

Enacted 02/04/03

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING SINCERE SORROW ON THE TRAGIC LOSS OF COLUMBIA

ASTRONAUTS, RICK HUSBAND, WILLIAM MCCOOL, MICHAEL ANDERSON,

KALPANA CHAWLA, DAVID BROWN, LAUREL CLARK, AND ILAN RAMON

Introduced By: Representatives Murphy, Fox, Ginaitt, Watson, and Kennedy

Date Introduced: February 04, 2003

     WHEREAS, The greatest measure of the success of the American space shuttle program

is the ease with which these amazing journeys have been looked upon and viewed as more or less

routine; and

     WHEREAS, Space shuttles have become workhorses in a celestial environment,

launched to build a space station, to advance further space missions, and to conduct experiments

to benefit all mankind; and

     WHEREAS, On Saturday, February 1, 2003 the entire world was cruelly reminded, once

again, that leaving Earth is anything but commonplace, when the Space Shuttle Columbia was

lost; and

     WHEREAS, The amazing mission of the Columbia lasted 16 days for seven courageous

men and women, who by their extraordinary sense of adventure, vision and purpose were part of

the elite group of scientists and pilots we respectfully call astronauts; and

     WHEREAS, Astronauts Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana

Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon made the ultimate sacrifice in service to

their country and their fellow man. We marvel at their mission, their daring, their bravery and

their idealism; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its sincere sorrow and regret on the tragic fate of the

Columbia space shuttle mission astronauts and that they will forever be remembered by the entire

membership; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to NASA's Johnson Space Center.

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LC01752

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