Joseph T. Burns said "Helen Keller once reminded us that ``no pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.'' The seven crew members aboard Columbia were optimists, one and all, who saw the uncharted lands of space as an opportunity, not an obstacle. They were willing to open new doorways for humanity at the cost of their own lives. Mr. Speaker, they left a Nation at war on a mission of peaceful exploration of space. While fate did not return them to us, the memory of their courage, their determination and their optimism for a brighter future will stay with us forever. I support this resolution as one small way of carrying on their memory." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordFebruary 5, 2003

Helen Keller once reminded us that ``no pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.'' The seven crew members aboard Columbia were optimists, one and all, who saw the uncharted lands of space as an opportunity, not an obstacle. They were willing to open new doorways for humanity at the cost of their own lives. Mr. Speaker, they left a Nation at war on a mission of peaceful exploration of space. While fate did not return them to us, the memory of their courage, their determination and their optimism for a brighter future will stay with us forever. I support this resolution as one small way of carrying on their memory.

Said by

Joseph T. Burns

Ohio

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Honoring the crew of the Columbia during a speech on the House floor.

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