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Author
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Topic: Mercury 7 astronauts as pallbearers at funeral
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328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-17-2014 11:07 PM
   
I came across this photo on the San Diego Air & Space Museum's flickr page among their Wally Schirra collection. Does anyone have any information about this funeral where the Mercury 7 astronauts all served as pallbearers? There was no information attached to the photo. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-18-2014 07:25 PM
I have no idea whose funeral it was but the photographer did a great job catching all 7 faces, especially Cooper who was in the back. |
robsouth
Member Posts: 769
From: West Midlands, UK
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 02-18-2014 09:12 PM
Is it the funeral of Leo DeOrsey? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-18-2014 09:27 PM
Rob, that may be it. Page 277 of the book "Father Hartke: His Life and Legacy to the American Theater" by Mary Jo Santo Pietro and Gilbert Hartke includes: ...funeral of Leo DeOrsey, attorney for the original astronauts, who served as pall bearers at the funeral. The date of the funeral is given as May 5, 1965 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 02-18-2014 09:48 PM
If you Google Image a photo showing the front of the church, you'll see that Robert is quite correct - that is indeed the doorway to the church in Chevy Chase, Maryland. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-19-2014 10:23 AM
Great detective work gentlemen! Robert, how in the world did you come up with that reference? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-19-2014 10:30 AM
I found it through Google Books, which is an excellent research tool. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-19-2014 10:34 AM
Given the date when this occurred, I wonder how long it had been since the seven were together prior to the funeral?Glenn had resigned from NASA in January 1964 and Carpenter was three months from diving to SEALAB II in August 1965. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 02-19-2014 01:00 PM
I'll stick my neck and say the last time all seven were together was Oct. 10th 1963, at the White House. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 02-19-2014 05:05 PM
I'm wondering if they were together again after that date, May 5, 1965. Cooper and Schirra still had their Gemini flights and it was a little more than a 1 1/2 years before we lost Gus Grissom. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-19-2014 05:18 PM
A very poignant photograph. The Seven were truly a brotherhood. It is sad to know that only one of those pallbearers is still with us. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 02-19-2014 05:46 PM
All seven Mercury astronauts attended the funeral of Ted Freeman on 3 November 1964. As I noted in "Fallen Astronauts," it was the very last time every one of American astronauts was in the same place together. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-20-2014 01:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 328KF:
...come up with that reference?
As a postscript, I should note that a more topical and current reference is Marketing the Moon by our "own" David Meerman Scott and Richard Jurek. On page 29 of the book (set to be released imminently), it is noted: When DeOrsey died in 1965, the Mercury 7 astronauts were pall bearers at his funeral. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-20-2014 05:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ColinBurgess:
...it was the very last time every one of American astronauts was in the same place together.
Just to be clear, by this you mean that all the astronauts chosen up to that date gathered in 1964, and not just the Mercury 7 (who would come together again the next year for DeOrsey's funeral), correct? |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 02-20-2014 09:37 PM
Correct, Rob. All 28 active astronauts were there, plus John Glenn (dressed in full Marine uniform) who had resigned from NASA in January of that year. |
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