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NASA Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial
February 2, 2004
The world watched with horror, sadness and tears as seven astronauts perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy on Saturday February 1, 2003. As our country mourned, a massive recovery effort was underway to recover debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia scattered across eastern Texas and western Louisiana. In addition to the shuttle debris, a recovery effort was launched to recover the crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia. My Pit Bull search dog, Dakota, and I were deployed by FEMA on February 3, 2003, to east Texas as part of the Task Force sent to search for astronauts Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawa, Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, William McCool, and Ilan Ramon.
We were there for 10 days and the pressure to perform flawlessly was incredible. We had a duty to bring our astronauts home; to provide closure for their families...and to our nation.
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On February 2, 2004, Dakota and I, along with three other SAR dog teams, were "honored guests" at the NASA One Year Anniversary Memorial for the fallen heroes of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
The memorial was held at NASA Ames Research Center located at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.
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From left to right; Shirley, Bev & Legend, Eva & Nessie, Kris & Dakota, Lynne & Lucy
G. Allen Flynt - Deputy Director, NASA Ames Research Center
David Morse - Public Affairs, NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Astronaut Joe Tanner
Kristine was asked to speak at the event and show her multi-media tribute.
Eva Cecil & Nessie, Bev Peabody & Legend, Joe Tanner, Kris Crawford & Dakota, Lynne Engelbert & Lucy
Dakota and I were reunited with NASA Astronaut Joe Tanner, who, one year ago,
was at our side while we worked in the cold, rain, and thorns, as we searched for the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. He flew out to the ceremony from the Johnson Space Center in Houston early that morning to be with the SAR K9 handlers that worked with him. More info about Joe can be found by clicking here
Video of the NASA Memorial
Click on screen to go to videos
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster Memorial
NASA AMES Research Center - Moffett Field, CA
February 2, 2004
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Those of us that went on this deployment have memories that we will never forget. We trudged through pastures, forests and swamps, battled brambles, thorns, high winds and freezing rain. We became witnesses to a horrible tragedy. But we also witnessed the best of humanity as thousands of people came together in those awful conditions for a common goal..."to bring our astronauts home." And it is those seven astronauts, men and women most of us had never heard of before February 1, 2003, that we will always remember.
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Journey to the Heavens
Click on the above link to view Kristine's Tribute
You will need SOUND to view this tribute
