[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING RONA RAMON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 19, 2012

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Rona 
Ramon, a teacher, healer, mother, friend and partner. Originally from 
Tel-Aviv, Rona served as a medic in a parachute unit with the Israeli 
army before earning a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education at 
Wingate Institute and becoming a respected teacher. In 1986, Rona 
married Ilan Ramon, an Israeli fighter pilot who later became Israel's 
first astronaut.
  Logging over 4,000 flight hours over his 14-year career, Ilan was a 
highly respected Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. In 1981, he was the 
youngest pilot flying in Operation Opera, the successful Israeli 
mission to destroy a nuclear reactor being constructed in Iraq. Ilan 
continued to dedicate his life to science as a Payload Specialist 
astronaut by using a multispectral camera to record and study desert 
dust among other research projects. His commitment to the advancement 
of science has positively impacted the people of Israel, the United 
States, and space exploration programs throughout the world.
  The couple moved to Houston, TX, in 1998 and started a family. As 
Ilan trained for his space missions, Rona continued on a new adventure 
of her own: holistic medicine. The new surroundings gave Rona the 
opportunity to expand her knowledge of holistic medicine by studying 
new techniques, including the treatment of astronauts.
  On February 1, 2003, tragedy struck when the space shuttle Columbia, 
carrying Ilan and 5 others, disintegrated upon re-entry. Columbia was 
commanded by Rick Husband, an alumnus of my alma mater, California 
State University, Fresno. Facing not only a personal, but also a 
national loss, Rona found herself in the midst of international events 
and memorials, representing not only herself, but the entire nation of 
Israel.
  While still coping with the passing of her husband, Rona also lost 
her brother in a battle against leukemia. Shortly thereafter, Rona and 
her four beautiful children, Asaf, Tal, Yiftach and Noa, returned to 
Israel, where she found solace in her holistic healing practice and 
earned an MA in Holistic Health at Lesley College.
  In 2009, Rona's eldest son Asaf, a gifted pilot, was tragically 
killed in an F-16 training accident. Once again, Rona was forced to 
deal with the death of a loved one, yet found the strength to continue 
her passion for helping others.
  Today, Rona continues to inspire people across the world with her 
public speaking on loss and healing. She works with several 
organizations and foundations including her own Ramon Foundation, an 
organization that promotes educational and communal values through 
space and scientific studies.
  On October 20, 2012, a film honoring Ilan titled ``An Article of 
Hope,'' will be shown in Palo Alto, CA, with Rona speaking in memoriam 
of her husband. This special event will be held in remembrance of the 
Columbia disaster nearly 10 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 
strength and compassion of Rona Ramon, a woman who has turned tragedy 
into an opportunity to promote good throughout the world, and who 
continues to be an inspiration to myself and others.

                          ____________________