posted 06-26-2005 01:57 AM               

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To the moon and back: Alan L. Bean made the trip. He was the fourth man to do so.

And with him was a small piece of home, a shiny badge to show off his honorary police commission status.

Saturday afternoon, Mr. Bean, an honorary Fort Worth police captain, retired that badge, given to him just before his flight on Apollo 12 in November 1969.

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The shiny honorary police badge came full circle Saturday at the retirement ceremony, passing between the same hands that touched it when it was first presented to Mr. Bean in September 1969. Retired police Sgt. John Stout accepted the badge standing in front of a black and white photograph of him giving it to Mr. Bean 36 years ago.

That badge, a Fort Worth flag, and a key to the city also were presented at Saturday's ceremony at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. All will be displayed at the museum through Sept. 5. Afterward, the items will be returned to the city.

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