Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

United States Space Shuttle Challenger

28 January 1986

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 30, 2008

1. United States Space Shuttle Challenger Marker, obverse

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[Obverse]:
In grateful and loving tribute to the brave crew of the United States Space Shuttle Challenger. 28 January 1986

Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
Commander
Washington
May 19, 1939

Michael J. Smith
Pilot
North Carolina
April 30, 1945

Ronald E. McNair
Mission Specialist
South Carolina
October 21, 1950

Ellison S. Onizuka
Mission Specialist
Hawaii
June 24, 1946

S. Christa McAullife
Payload Specialist
New Hampshire
September 2, 1948

Judith A. Resnick
Mission Specialist
Ohio
April 5, 1949

Gregory B. Jarvis
Payload Specialist
Michigan
August 24, 1944

[Reverse]: HIGH FLIGHT
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings. Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of, wheeled and soared and swung high in the sun-lit silence hov'ring there. I've chased the shouting wind along

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and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air, up, up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace where never lark or even eagle flew, and while with silent lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space put out my hand and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Erected 1986.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education • Notable Events • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the National Cemeteries series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 28, 1986.

Location. 38° 52.602′ N, 77° 4.447′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. Marker is in ANC Section 46, off Memorial Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. An Attempt to Rescue American Hostages Held in Iran (here, next to this marker); United States Space Shuttle Columbia (here, next to this marker); Canadian Cross of Sacrifice (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army (within shouting distance of this marker);

United States Space Shuttle Challenger Marker, reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 30, 2008

2. United States Space Shuttle Challenger Marker, reverse

385th Bomb Group (within shouting distance of this marker); American Special Operations Forces (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of the Bulge (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Maine Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the Challenger Disaster. (Submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Arlington National Cemetery, Section 46 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 30, 2008

3. Arlington National Cemetery, Section 46

Challenger monument, left center. Iran rescue mission monument, center. Columbia monument, right center. Canadian Cross, right rear.

The First Space Shuttle image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 5, 2012

4. The First Space Shuttle

The Enterprise was the original Space Shuttle and the prototype for the Challenger. It never flew in space, but performed several suborbital test flights and landings.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,324 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on September 6, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on March 11, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.