From the book
Threads of Honor:
MEMORIES IN THE
HEART OF AN AMERICAN FLAG
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more about this book
Many memories rich
and true rest in the heart of a flag, deep within its threads
of
red, of white, and blue
There within its
field of stars this humble flag has many memories of tears and cheers, of
tragedy and scars
Memories of the
factory of flags where birth first came, and of other flags all dreaming
dreams of their first flight in the early morning light
Memories of that
first time when its turn came, and the dawns early light found it flying
proud over a nations monument to a government 'of the people'
Memories of its
journey from that shining sea to the mountains majesty, and a small group
of proud young men all dressed in red and green
Memories of travel
to another place where it was prepared for a journey into space, and
history
Memories of the
day it met the destined crew, seven from different worlds, united in a
dream to touch the stars, and the heart of humankind
Memories of delays
and waits until that hour, one frosty dawn beside the sea, when it began
its flight into history
Memories of the
thrill of liftoff and the hope of dreams, the cheers, the rockets red
glare, bombs bursting in air, then silence as all fell to earth a
different purpose to fulfill
Memories of storm
tossed seas and the quiet of the oceans depths, alone save for seven of
the nations best
Memories of
sunlight once again, and cheers, and a journey back to the home of the
free and the brave, its destiny again to wave
Memories of that
solemn assembly, where with the help of invisible hands it was unfurled,
for all the world to see through tearful eyes
Memories of the
journey to a city where our God through man once wrote
"We
The People...", and laid the path to freedom for all men
Memories of a
great parade, where so proudly they hailed in the morning dew, a miracle
flag, held tight by the hands of three youth
Memories of
destiny fulfilled at twilights last gleaming, in a great hall amid the
roar of trumpets and the sound of angels voices
Memories of seven
young men, holding it aloft for all to share, giving proof through that
night that our Flag was still there
Memories of a
journey at last now complete, flying once again over the nations seat,
then onto the vast green fields where generations of freedoms youth rest
Memories of seeing
here once again the now resting crew who gave this proud flag its softest
memories, and its mission to fulfill for all the world to see
For eternity there
will always be memories rich and true resting in the heart of this great
flag, in its field of stars, deep within its threads of red, of white,
and blue
(a tribute to a
special flag, the astronauts who made it special,
and the young men
who will keep it special...from Bill Tolbert)
THE
CHALLENGER FLAG
The Challenger
Flag was manufactured in 1984 by the Valley Forge Flag Company, of Spring
City PA. It was first flown over the U.S. Capitol on the 25th of January
1985 on behalf of Boy Scout Troop 514 of Monument, Colorado. It was
submitted to the NASA Johnson Space Center by the 2nd Space Wing, Air
Force Space Command, for flight on a Space Shuttle. On the 28th of
January 1986 if was carried in the Official Flight Kit of the Space
Shuttle Challenger on its last flight. The Flag was later recovered from
the floor of the Atlantic Ocean--undamaged--and returned to the Air Force
and Troop 514 on the 18th of December 1986 at a special ceremony at the
Consolidated Space Operations Center, Falcon Air Force Station, Colorado.
The
return was accomplished by Astronaut Guy Bluford, himself an Eagle Scout.
Early in 1987 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren E. Burger
designated the Challenger Flag as the "Official Flag" of the ceremonies
commemorating the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of
the United States. On the 17th of September 1987 the Flag was flown by
three Boy Scouts from Troop 514 through the streets of Philadelphia in the
longest parade in history. On that same evening the Flag was flown on
the stage of the Philadelphia Civic Center Hall as part of the nationally
televised opening ceremonies. This occurred before thirteen thousand in
attendance, and was accompanied by a 200 piece brass ensemble, 200 members
of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Philly Pops Orchestra, and Sandi Patti
singing the National Anthem. On the 18th of September the Flag was
re-flown over the U.S. Capitol, completing a journey which included
mountain tops, ocean floors and the boundary of space. On the 20th of
September Troop 514 unfurled the Flag at Arlington National Cemetery
before the resting place of the seven Astronauts who gave it flight.
