Monday, February 24 Astros to wear Columbia mission patch this season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) _ The Houston Astros will wear the mission patch from the space shuttle Columbia throughout the season to honor the astronauts who died earlier this month. The Astros received permission from NASA and the families of the astronauts to wear the patch. The team also will conduct a special ceremony on opening day, April 1, at Minute Maid Park. ``The astronauts on this mission are true American heroes, and we are deeply grateful to be afforded the opportunity to pay tribute to these incredible people,'' Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. said. When the Colt .45s changed their name to the Astros in 1965, coinciding with the opening of the Astrodome and recognizing the space program, 24 astronauts threw ceremonial pitches at the team's home opener. In each season since moving to Minute Maid Park in 2000, the Astros have hosted a ``NASA Day'' honoring astronauts and employees of the Johnson Space Center in southeast Houston.
This is awesome... I can't think of anything better than to honor those seven heroes... The Astros should rock this year and I cant wait...
