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)

FMI: www.accessmiddleeast.org, www.nasa.gov