Herrington Visit A Message Of Celebrating A Journey, Sharing A Vision-A Dream

	John Herrington stands before image of a feather he took aboard STS-113.

"I feel it is my responsibility to share my experience and the joy of flying in space with others," said John B. Herrington in closing remarks to a group of Goddard employees. His talk was part of an all day visit by Herrington at Goddard on November 12, as part of the Native American celebration here.

As a member of the STS-113 crew that flew aboard Endeavour, Herrington is the first declared tribally enrolled Native American (Chickasaw) astronaut to fly into outer space. "Celebrating Our Journey, Sharing Our Vision" is the theme for the 2003 National Observance of Native American History Month.

"When John launched on November 23, 2002, onboard Endeavor, and then completed his three successful EVAs outside the Orbiter, the Native spirit soared with him, once again intertwining with and strengthening the American spirit," said Administrator O'Keefe in his 2003 message to NASA.

Photos by Chris Gunn/293
John Herrington talks to students at C.H. Flowers High School.

Herrington's Goddard visit began with a trip to nearby Charles Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland, named for a Tuskegee Airman. The more than 300 students appeared captured within Herrington's dream of flying into outer space. He played a video while describing his work in outer space.

"I really feel fortunate to fly into space but I am really fortunate because someone influenced me," said Herrington. He was referring to his earlier years in school and how he was influenced to first go back to college for his degree after taking some time off. He was again influenced at the end of his college years to join the Navy.

"As a Navy test pilot I then realized that I was in a place where people I admired had been," said Herrington. It was this realization that inspired him to apply twice before being selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1996.

"School is tough but you must stick with it," he told the students. "It will allow you to make your dream come true as it did for me."

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