Last night I attended the memorial service for Mission Specialist Dr. Cmdr. Laurel Blair Salton Clark here in Racine. It was really amazing to see all the lives she touched. I was also amazed at the number of people I knew who knew her personally.

The tragic loss of the Shuttle Columbia STS-107 has hit our community hard. The memorial service was attended by Governor Jim Doyle, Mayor Jim Smith, Congressman Paul Ryan, County Exec Jean Jacobson, Rear Admiral Ann Rondeau, Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, Contingent of Sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Racine Area Police, Fire and rescue personnel and her sisters from Gamma Phi Beta, Family, Friends and the citizens of Racine and Wisconsin.

The Columbia did not return safely to Earth but we can pray that all are safely home.