Homage to the Challenger crew who perished in the explosion |
-----------------------------We did not die in vain--------------------------- Why did we die? That's what we do, As those have done before. We've done it since the world was young, To open up the door. The frontier is our constant goal, To see what may be found Beyond the distant the mountain range; Across the wave-swept sound. In ships of skin, or wood, or steel We sail the unmapped sea. From shore to shore, from earth to moon, Into the galaxy. We are the ones who blaze the trail. Our bones we leave behind. To mark the way as milestones Along the roads we find. We are the ones who always dare, What others fear to do. To cast a light into the dark Exposing all to view. Many of us die unknown With none to know our name. Others blaze in history In never ending fame. Shackleton and Peary are names You should know well. Grissom, White and Chaffee be Among the ones who fell. We join them, and the legions Before us on the trail, To go where "Thyre be Dragons", They died... But did not fail. We too have left the living. We ask you not to grieve. We did not want your sorrow. This you must believe. Celebrate instead our glory. And take the paths we trod. While stand we with the heros Beside the throne of God. Don't let our deaths be wasted. Don't let it be in vain. We're waiting and we're watching For a ship to sail again. The universe is waiting The next big step is Mars To complete our final mission and go on... to reach the stars. |