FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 6, 2000
| Contact: | Sunny Mindel/Mary Lasher 212-788-2958 |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today presented United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Scott Kelly with the City's Crystal Apple for his role as pilot of the space shuttle Discovery on its successful mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. During the flight, Lieutenant Commander Kelly took a picture of New York City which was presented to the Mayor at today's City Hall ceremony.
A graduate of SUNY Maritime College, Lieutenant Commander Kelly
served as pilot aboard STS-103, the 8-day December mission during which the
crew successfully installed new instruments and upgraded systems on the Hubble
Space Telescope.
"Lieutenant Commander Scott Kelly is an American hero," said Mayor
Giuliani. "His leadership on the successful mission to repair the Hubble
Space Telescope provided an invaluable service not only to the American people,
but the whole world. New York City is proud to have been home to Lieutenant
Commander Kelly when he attended the SUNY Maritime College, and New Yorkers
are proud to honor him today for his bravery and skill."
Lieutenant Commander Scott Kelly said, "The New York City area and State University of New York Maritime College are important foundations to my life. The people here played key roles in helping me grow up and learn what you need to know to succeed. I doubt I'd ever have become an astronaut without this background."
Rear Admiral David R. Brown, President of the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, said, "Scott Kelly exemplifies everything that is good about SUNY Maritime College. He possesses all the outstanding qualities we seek to instill in the young men and women who attend Maritime College."
The Mayor serves as Honorary Chairman of SUNY Maritime College's 125th Anniversary Celebration where, on Saturday, April 8, a special tribute will be paid to Lieutenant Commander Kelly.
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