A Nation Sadly Mourns
The 2/1/03 Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy
The flagship of our Shuttle program. Columbia its name.
The first one of its kind with others built to be the same.
Twenty seven missions this magnificent ship flew.
Each time a different task at hand. Each time a different crew.
A first for those in Israel. A pilot of their own.
Who into their long history books, so proudly he had flown.
The vict’ry he’d accomplished ended up to be his fate.
Columbia had nearly finished, with mission twenty-eight.
The mission had went perfectly without the slightest hitch.
Somewhere in its re-entry it encountered its first glitch.
Which proved to be a major one. Not sure just what went wrong.
It burned as it just fell apart while hurtling along.
Our nation watched in awe as we could not believe the news.
We now can only wait ‘til NASA gathers all its clues.
To all the friends and families of those we lost today.
We’re with you, as a nation, and we join you as you pray.
To all the Seven Heroes that had gave their lives to serve.
God has a special spot for them, He’d chosen to reserve.
I pray He send the comfort that these families will need.
His peace, that He’ll instill in them, and do it with God speed.
I know they need some time to mourn—deserve to be upset!
Yet leave them little doubt, this day, is one we won’t forget.
Each one has lost a piece of them. Their heart’s severely torn.
Please rest assured this country will be with you as you mourn.
One day you’ll be united with the loved ones you had lost.
Each one believed in what they did, and realized the cost.
I’m sorry that this poem can only, minimally, express
The deep regret and world support, I wanted to address.
Our prayers are with the astronauts. The loved ones left behind!
With all the folks at NASA, who this mission was assigned!
God’s strength, please, find its way to you, accompanied by His peace.
Please know He’s taken home the ones, He’s forced you to release.