Legionnaire in space, Kenneth Ham, has homecoming at former high school
By The American Legion
Membership
Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
In June of 2008, astronaut Kenneth Ham brought his Legion membership card with him into deep space. The 10-year Legionnaire and former Navy commander was welcomed home to Clark, N.J., Sept. 8.
When astronaut Kenneth Ham went into deep space in June 2008 on board the shuttle Discovery, he took his American Legion membership card with him. He shared his “American Legion card in space” with well-wishers during a Sept. 8 homecoming at his alma mater, L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, N.J.
Ham, who served in the U.S. Navy and rose to the rank of commander, graduated from high school in 1983.
At the “welcome home” event, Ham talked about his journey and gave the famed Legion membership card to fellow Legionnaire William Duffy, who originally suggested that Ham take it into space. A photo of Ham holding the card by the Discovery’s hatch window was presented to the school, along with a certificate of authenticity NASA issued, recognizing the membership card as part of the mission.
The card accounted for one of Ham’s 10 personal items. He also took along one of Lance Armstrong’s yellow jerseys from his record-setting seventh Tour De France victory, a Buzz Lightyear figurine from the movie Toy Story, and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s backup jersey from Super Bowl XLII.
While Ham was in space, students at L. Johnson Regional High School wore T-shirts that had Ham’s mission name – “STS-124” – printed on them.
Ham is scheduled to become the Discovery’s overall commander in May 2010.
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Room 345 fills before Helm testifies. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
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National Commander Mike Helm begins his testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on Feb. 25. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
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Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella speaks before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
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Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., asked Commander Helm a question during the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
A Legionnaire leaves the Cannon House Building after National Commander Mike Helm testified before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter/The Americ