InMemoryoftheChallengerAstronauts
羅納德·裡根/RonaldReagan
羅納德·裡根（1911—2004），美國第四十九、五十任總統（1981—1989）。裡根於1911年2月6日生於美國伊利諾伊州坦皮科城，1932年畢業於尤雷卡學院並獲經濟學和社會學學士學位。第二次世界大戰期間應徵入伍，退伍後重返好萊塢。
1980年11月4日裡根當選為美國第四十九任總統，1984年11月競選連任成功，當選為美國第五十任總統，1989年1月辭職。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.mournv.哀痛
2.desirev.希望，渴望；要求，請求
3.astronautn.宇航員，太空人
4.eageradj.熱切的，渴望的
5.commemoratev.紀念，慶祝
WecometogethertodaytomournthelossofsevenbraveAmericans,tosharethegriefthatweallfeel,andperhapsinthatsharing,tofindthestrengthtobearoursorrowandthecouragetolookfortheseedsofhope.
Ournation』slossisfirstaprofoundpersonallosstothefamilyandthefriendsandthelovedonesofourshuttleastronauts.Tothosetheyleftbehind—themothers,thefathers,thehusbandsandwives,brothersandsisters,yes,andespeciallythechildren—allofAmericastandsbesideyouinyourtimeofsorrow.
Whatwesaytodayisonlyaninadequateexpressionofwhatwecarryinourhearts.Wordspaleintheshadowofgrief;theyseeminsufficienteventomeasurethebravesacrificeofthoseyoulovedandwesoadmired.Theirtruesttestimonywillnotbeinthewordswespeak,butinthewaytheyledtheirlivesandinthewaytheylosttheirlives—withdedication,honor,andanunquenchabledesiretoexplorethismysteriousandbeautifuluniverse.
Thebestwecandoisrememberoursevenastronauts,ourChallengerSeven,rememberthemastheylived,bringinglifeandloveandjoytothosewhoknewthemandpridetoanation.
Theycamefromallpartsofthisgreatcountry—fromSouthCarolinatoWashingtonState;OhiotoMohawk,NewYork;HawaiitoNorthCarolinatoConcord,NewHampshire.Theyweresodifferent;yetintheirmission,theirquest,theyheldsomuchincommon.
WerememberDickScobee,thecommanderwhospokethelastwordsweheardfromthespaceshuttleChallenger.HeservedasafighterpilotinVietnamearningmanymedalsforbraveryandlaterasatestpilotofadvancedaircraftbeforejoiningthespaceprogram.DangerwasafamiliarcompaniontoCommanderScobee.
WerememberMichaelSmith,whoearnedenoughmedalsasacombatpilottocoverhischest,includingtheNavyDistinguishedFlyingCross,threeAirMedals,andtheVietnameseCrossofGallantrywithSilverStaringratitudefromanationhefoughttokeepfree.
WerememberJudithResnik,knownasJ.R.toherfriends,alwayssmiling,alwayseagertomakeacontribution,findingbeautyinthemusicsheplayedonherpianoinheroff-hours.
WerememberEllisonOnizuka,whoasachildrunningbarefootthroughthecoffeefieldsandmacadamiagrovesofHawaiidreamedofsomedaytravelingtotheMoon.BeinganEagleScout,hesaid,hadhelpedhimsoartotheimpressiveachievementsofhiscareer.
WerememberRonaldMcNair,whosaidthathelearnedperseveranceinthecottonfieldsofSouthCarolina.Hisdreamwastoliveaboardthespacestation.Performingexperimentsandplayinghissaxophoneintheweightlessnessofspace.Well,Ron,wewillmissyoursaxophone;andwewillbuildyourspacestation.
WerememberGregoryJarvis.Onthatill-fatedflighthewascarryingwithhimaflagofhisuniversityinBuffalo,NewYork—asmalltoken,hesaid,tothepeoplewhounlockedhisfuture.
WerememberChristaMcAuliffe,whocapturedtheimaginationoftheentirenation;inspiringuswithherpluck,herrestlessspiritofdiscovery;ateacher,notjusttoherstudents,buttoanentirepeople,instillingusallwiththeexcitementofthisjourneywerideintothefuture.
Wewillalwaysrememberthem,theseskilledprofessionals,scientistsandadventurers,theseartistsandteachersandfamilymenandwomen;andwewillcherisheachoftheirstories,storiesoftriumphandbravery,storiesoftrueAmericanheroes.
Onthedayofthedisaster,ournationheldavigilbyourtelevisionsets.Inonecruelmomentourexhilarationturnedtohorror;wewaitedandwatchedandtriedtomakesenseofwhatwehadseen.ThatnightIlistenedtoacall-inprogramontheradio;peopleofeveryagespokeoftheirsadnessandthepridetheyfeltinourastronauts.AcrossAmericawearereachingout,holdinghands,andfindingcomfortinoneanother.
Thesacrificeofyourlovedoneshasstirredthesoulofournationandthroughthepainourheartshavebeenopenedtoaprofoundtruth:Thefutureisnotfree;thestoryofallhumanprogressisoneofastruggleagainstallodds.WelearnedagainthatthisAmerica,whichAbrahamLincolncalledthelast,besthopeofmanonEarth,wasbuiltonheroismandnoblesacrifice.Itwasbuiltbymenandwomenlikeoursevenstarvoyagers,whoansweredacallbeyondduty,whogavemorethanwasexpectedorrequired,andwhogaveitlittlethoughtofworldlyreward.
Wethinkbacktothepioneersofanearliercentury,thesturdysoulswhotooktheirfamiliesandtheirbelongingsandsetoutintothefrontieroftheAmericanWest.Oftentheymetwithterriblehardship.AlongtheOregonTrail,youcouldstillseethegravemarkersofthosewhofellontheway.Butgriefonlysteeledthemtothejourneyahead.