Astronaut Anderson remembered as 'Christian, father, friend'

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Shuttle astronaut Michael Anderson was laid to rest with full military honors yesterday atop a scenic hill at Arlington National Cemetery, surrounded by family and friends who remembered his "accomplishments as a Christian, a father and a friend."

The hourlong ceremony, which was both somber and regal, included a flyover by a lone KC-135 tanker from Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Anderson's hometown. His casket was carried on a seven-horse caisson as an Air Force band played "Amazing Grace." An honor guard carried out a 21-gun salute. Air Force Secretary James Roche and NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe presented Anderson's wife and parents with Distinguished Service medals.


		AP
	Michael Anderson

But Lt. Col. Derek Green, a friend of Anderson who also is a pilot and hopes to follow his friend into space, delivered the most poignant moment. In a brief eulogy, Green spoke about Anderson's devotion to his family and to his faith. He lauded Anderson for being resolute "but not pushy" and told Anderson's wife and two young daughters to be comforted that he will "wake up to the face of God."

"Mike lived his dream on this side of glory," Green said, adding, "Mike truly gave new meaning to the phrase, 'I want to be like Mike.' "

Anderson, who flew KC-135s and served as a payload specialist on the doomed Columbia space shuttle, was the first of three members of the Columbia crew to be buried at one of the nation's most hallowed places. Anderson, an Air Force lieutenant colonel, qualified for burial at Arlington because he died while on official duty to his county.

Mission specialist, Laurel Clark, 41, will be buried Monday followed by Navy Capt. David Brown on Wednesday.

Anderson, the son of an Air Force officer, was a 43-year-old father of two daughters who said before the Columbia mission that becoming an astronaut was a lifelong dream.

Anderson's grave overlooks the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is and is next to a memorial for the unidentified remains of astronauts from the Challenger, the shuttle that disintegrated on liftoff in 1986. Arlington National Cemetery is a place where the flags are perpetually at half-mast, where former President Kennedy is buried as well as 16 astronauts and thousands of military men and women.

Yesterday's ceremony was only the first of a series of memorials designed to celebrate and recognize Anderson. Immediately after the burial, Anderson's wife and children, along with the families of the other shuttle crew members, went to the White House to meet President Bush.

City leaders in Spokane are planning a large event on Tuesday at the city's 2,500-seat Spokane Opera House, his mother, Barbara Anderson, said this week. The service is set to begin at 11 a.m. and will be open to the public.

"The March 11 memorial service will provide our community an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of Lt. Col. Michael Anderson, and for us to support his family," Spokane Mayor John Powers said.

Anderson, listed Spokane as his hometown, even though he lived in the space program's home base of Houston for several years. Anderson's wife, Sandra, a Spokane native, and his two daughters are expected to attend.

Gov. Gary Locke will speak at the memorial, and the White House has been asked to send a representative.

Anderson served as Columbia's payload commander, overseeing science experiments during the 16-day mission.

He first flew in space in 1998 aboard the shuttle Endeavour, and then returned to speak to several Spokane-area schools and community groups.

P-I Washington correspondent Charles Pope can be reached at 202-943-9229 or charliepope@seattlepi.com