[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8544]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   ``ENDEAVOUR''--IN HONOR OF HER FINAL MISSION THE ENDEAVOUR STS-134

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                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 1, 2011

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in gratitude of the 
brave men and women of NASA, and the Shuttle program. On this, 
Endeavour's last and final mission, and to the crew of Kelly, Johnson, 
Fincke, Chamitoff, Feustel, Vittori, we say God Speed. Our prayers are 
with you and your families. I ask that this poem penned in honor of 
them by Albert Caswell be placed in the Record.

                               Endeavour

     When . . . Whenever . . . Whenever, We Endeavour!
     And go forth! All out upon our most heroic course * * * and 
           reach for the stars!
     To new heights, all in our hopes and dreams . . . This Flight 
           . . . This Force, that only hearts can so ignite!
     Burning bold and burning bright, all out upon our most heroic 
           ways!
     To strive for such lofty goals, and dreams!
     All out towards new worlds to explore, such magnificence . . 
           . such themes!
     To soar to, where none before have gone!
     As ever onward, we speed . . . to far off and most distant 
           shores . . .
     `As all in this, it so surely seems . . .
     That this force, these golden dreams . . . but can only come 
           from, from within . . . the bravest of all hearts, 
           convene!
     Only with such shining hopes and dreams, will we reach this 
           end!
     As we Endeavour, to go forth to see what must be seen!
     Armed with but only our hearts of courage full, as we so dare 
           to dream, time and time again!
     As all ahead full, we proceed!
     To take us out of earth's surly bonds, all out upon our most 
           historic course . . .
     To new worlds, so far beyond . . . this force!
     All in our search for the truth . . .
     To Discovery and beyond, all in the pursuit of knowledge . . 
           . all in our hearts of youth!
     As we are gone! As to new world's we explore!
     But, for Man and Womankind's very existence to so insure!
     Above and beyond! To Reach For and Achieve, all in what we 
           believe!
     As our hearts take flight, to plant these seeds!
     To meet Woman and Mankind's, needs!
     While, all out there on the edge of death . . . hurdling, 
           through space . . . at speed!
     As these bravest of all hearts so crest, and so rapidly so 
           beat . . . all in this their race against time, we so 
           see!
     Right to the very edge of death, all in these their most 
           heroic quests!
     All for our world to so bless! This need!
     To find the answers that we must know! But, to Endeavour 
           there so!
     While, all of their precious lives but lie in their hands . . 
           .
     The men and women Omission control, who now so stand!
     Who so tirelessly work, all on their watch . . . who plan . . 
           .
     As life and death, but hangs on a strand!
     For you are worth your weight in gold, as this we all so 
           understand!
     As you too have chose to Endeavour, as so much is owed!
     As through these journeys we continue to learn, and grow!
     All out upon our course! So that in the end, Woman and 
           Mankind may ascend!
     To new heights and so go forth!
     And so Endeavour, as you take your last and final mission . . 
           .
     and final visions, and blast off to this final ignition!
     All in your most magnificent of quests, and celestial visions 
           . . .
     A prayer, a wish . . . to all of you, but come our blessings!
     As you hurdle through space, on the very edge of death!
     For all of us to bless! God Speed, and safe journey on that 
           edge!
     You most heroic champions of space, as said . . .
     The ones who so dare to dream, as now up to new worlds you so 
           speed!
     And to all those who over the years, who too have so 
           Endeavored here . . .
     With tears, as you rode upon her historic wings . . .
     As to your most courageous hearts, her songs to you did sing!
     As you so brought back to our world, many a splendid thing!
     All within the light of the knowledge, that you so carried 
           back with you all upon her golden wings . . .
     All because you all so chose, To Endeavour!
     --Albert Caswell

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