Day: February 16, 2008

West Point Pioneers in Space Exploration

Dear Graduate or Friend of West Point,

You are invited to attend the Dedication of West Point Bricks in the Apollo Courtyard of the United States Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama.  This dedication is to honor and recognize West Point's Pioneers in Space Exploration.  The Ceremony will begin at one o'clock in the afternoon of 7 March 2008.

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of the launching of the Explorer I satellite by the United States Army.  Many West Pointers were involved in the early Army programs which led to the early NASA programs of Mercury and Gemini.  West Pointers were among the first astronauts and also were involved in the development of the Saturn V/Apollo Programs.  Even today, West Pointers are involved in Space Exploration programs.

The complete listing of names may be found on our website.

Arthur C. Meier II
President, WPSTV

If you go to the Apollo Courtyard, our bricks are on the right hand side as you face the entrance to the Davidson Center.  The bricks closest to the Center are blank, then there are bricks associated with the NASA Saturn reunion folks, then our bricks.  They are easy to spot because of the West Point Crest.  Although we are recognizing and honoring 38 individuals, since we put two names on each brick they do not cover a large area, but still significant.

We had a good meeting, and Macy Brown will be writing up the notes and they will be posted on the website.

Highlights:

The dedication of the bricks will be at 1300 hours on 7 March, in the Apollo Courtyard.  (go to our website for a photo of the bricks.)

We can begin to decorate the table after 1400 hours on 7 March.

Benny Havens hour begins at 1830 hours.

The Davidson Center is Awesome!   We will be dining underneath the Command Module around the depiction of the moon with the Apollo Landing sites noted.  This will be a night to remember –   New exhibits are moving in daily.

Art Meier