Jay Inslee: “America is all aware of the tragedy of our seven losses, but I would like to pay particular tribute to two American…”

“America is all aware of the tragedy of our seven losses, but I would like to pay particular tribute to two American stories that bear repeating as we think about our loss. First, I want to pay tribute to the very unique life of Dr. Kalpana Chawla, a woman who had such an incredible personal story that became now an American icon. Dr. Chawla was born in India and raised in a small town called Karnal in the Punjab region. She at an early age decided to become associated with space, and she went to the University of Punjab and later received a degree from the University of Texas, and now has become a part of the tradition and story of American and international progress. She served both in the last space shuttle flight, the Columbia, and in 1997; and the world is proud of her. But what I want to say particularly is I think Dr. Chawla's story is one that can be embraced by America in the sense that we have been a magnet for people of incredible ambition and talent that have helped America lead the world in technology in a whole host of ways. But this is also a story of success for India. India rightfully shares the privilege and honor of having raised and educated Dr. Chawla early in her life.”