73-163 Apollo 17 astronauts present flag to Center

NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058

FOR RELEASE: December 11, 1973

Janet Wrather 713/483-5111

RELEASE NO: 73-163

APOLLO 17 ASTRONAUTS PRESENT FLAG TO CENTER

A year ago today, Apollo 17 touched down on Taurus Littrow to finalize manned lunar landings.

Commemorating this event, Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan and lunar module pilot, Jack Schmitt today presented a U. S. flag which flew aboard the Apollo spacecraft, "the America," to mission controllers and "all the people at JSC who supported the operation."

The ceremony took place in the Mission Control Center at approximately 1:54 p.m. CST.

"The real significance of this flag, "Cernan stated, "is manifested in its own history, but to us, the fact that we had the opportunity to carry it, sort of represents the dedication and effort and the courage and seIf sacrifice of so many of you people here at the Center who made our mission possible."

Jack Schmitt added, "I think all of you remember what I said when we deployed the flag similar to this on the Moon, that was the flag that flew in the MOCR during Apollo 11 through Apollo 16 and it's up there now, not only representing the country, but everyone invoIved in Apollo through the years. This flag went to the same place, but comes back to fly in the MOCR and I hope you'll let it fly here for as long as we're flying in space."

Eugene Kranz, Deputy Director of Flight Operations, accepted the flag on behalf of the Center.

"This flag shall always stand in the Mission Control Center," Kranz said "and when we look at it, we'll think that dedication to the job, self sacrifice, attention to detail and craftsmanship are what we need to keep this country great."

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