STS-107 Family Members Meet In Israel
By Dave Bender, Access|Middle East
Evelyn Husband and her
mate, Rick, had always planned to visit Israel. When Rick was
assigned to NASA's STS-107 mission, the resolve was strengthened by
the fact that one of his crewmates, Ilan Ramon, was Israel's first
man in space.
"Rick's lifelong dream was to come to Israel -- even long before
he was assigned to this crew with Ilan. Once Rick was assigned to
be the commander of STS-107 and Ilan was in the crew, we felt very
certain that we would get to come and that our dreams would come
true."
But those plans disintegrated along with the shuttle when it
fell from the skies over Texas last year. Last week, however,
several family members who lost their loved ones aboard the last
flight of Columbia were in Israel, planting a tree in memory of the
STS-107 crew.
"I feel tremendous happiness to have my family, the Columbia
family, over here," said Rona Ramon as the delegation arrived at
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. "It's really a special moment for
me. The plan for a visit in Israel started a few years ago when
Ilan was first (selected to fly on the shuttle). He said that he
wanted to organize a trip for his crewmates to visit Israel so that
they would see what it is really like and not just the way it is
shown in the media. This has been a year of ups and downs. This is
one of the peaks."
"It's been bittersweet," said Ms. Husband, "but this entire
journey has been bittersweet.... When we planted the tree in
Houston, at Johnson Space Center, it was one of the most emotional
days for me. Today has been just as emotional to me. There's
something very permanent, very significant, when I see Rick's name
on a plaque."
Planting a tree is Israel's way of remembering those who've
passed on. "It's so significant to see (Rick's plaque) in front of
a tree that's still so full of life. I can't convey to you how much
it means to me that there's a tree in Houston, where we live and
one here in Israel as well. It just continues the bond that our
families have for each other and the love that we feel for each
other. This was a very significant day for me and for my
family."
Through her tears,
Evelyn said it was tough making the journey to Israel for a
ceremony remembering Ilan Ramon. "Not only was it a public journey
to come here this week... but it was a private journey for me and
my children because of our faith." She said, in fact, that the
public and private tribulations faced by her family and those of
the other six astronauts have run strangely parallel courses.
"There's been joy and anguish -- parallel," she said. "I'm so
proud and just so thankful for this ceremony... but it's very
difficult as well."
Evelyn, her children and the families of other STS-107 crew
members met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during the
visit. He had invited the entire crew and their families to
Jerusalem in a phone call to the shuttle before its tragic demise.
"I wish that your loved ones were here with us," said Sharon. "Now
you are helping me fulfill my pledge."
Sharon said that in spite of the crew's deaths, "their spirit,
their hopes and values and dreams for a better future will forever
be in our hearts." He added, "our joint efforts in space will
continue."
(Dave Bender is a Jerusalem-based journalist working for the
non-partisan web journal "Access Middle East." He's also a
contributing correspondent for Aero-News Net)