| COLUMBIA MEMORIAL
FOUNTAINIn February 2003, ground was broken for the
construction of a 75-foot-long water fountain with seven water spouts, a
permanent memorial to the Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
It was dedicated Saturday, March 8, 2003 in front of The Arts
Alliance Center at Clear Lake. The bronze inscription across the wave patterned
white brick fountain reads: SALUTING COLUMBIA ASTRONAUTS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR HUMAN EXPLORATION IN SPACE. A bronze plaque beneath each water spout
displays the name of each astronaut: David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark,
Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool, and Ilan Ramon.
Dignitaries from NASA, Lockheed Martin, U.S. District
Representatives, and area city officials attended the dedication. Friendswood
choral group Chorus Sine Nomine performed The Astronaut Hymn. Arts Alliance
founder and then-Executive Director Kay Taylor Burnett announced plans on
February 3, 2003, when ground-breaking was set to begin on the fountain as a
memorial for her husband, legal legend Warren Burnett. “This
fountain’s planning began last fall with memorial contributions given for
my husband,” said Ms. Burnett. “In light of the recent tragedy, plans
have changed. I know that Warren would approve this tribute to the astronauts
who were our neighbors, our friends, and are certainly our heroes. We will
never forget them.”
On the afternoon of Burnett’s announcement, Lockheed
Martin’s president, Jay Honeycutt, called to offer underwriting of $20,000
for the project. Ms. Burnett contributed $15,000; Burnett memorial
contributions $7,000; The Space Store $5,000; and several hundred dollars have
been donated by area citizens. The fountain memorial is in front of The Arts
Alliance Center, facing NASA’s Johnson Space Center. |
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