In celebration of the John Glenn Splash down, this week marks a special celebration in the TCI to mark that occasion.
HE Governor Todd stated the following in his address to mark the occasion:
50 years ago the eyes of the world were on Grand Turk. I am delighted to be here today at the first event of this busy anniversary week to commemorate the splashdown of Colonel John Glenn and Friendship 7 from the Mercury space programme. The new murals will be a permanent reminder of the historic bond between NASA and TCI.
I should like to extend a special welcome to our visitors from overseas, in particular to our guest speakers, Janet E. Petro, Deputy Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center and former Mercury Program radar technician, Alan Rakofsky, whom I understand worked here on Grand Turk during the Mercury Program.
In recognition of the strategic importance of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the time, the United States Government constructed a Guided Missile Tracking Station here at the south end of Grand Turk in 1953 – just a short distance from where we are today.
Fortunately although the capabilities of the base were never tested in anger, the facility was instrumental in the safe management of a second historic land fall on Grand Turk (or rather “splashdown” on this occasion) when, on 20th February 1962, Colonel John Glenn was picked up by an aircraft carrier near the island after completing three orbits in space in the capsule Friendship 7.
We now know that John Glenn landed safely and others followed him, to the moon. But let us remember, no-one knew that at the time. He was a pioneer. A risk taker. A hero. We recall another inspired and risk taker pioneer who came to these waters 500 years ago, Christopher Columbus. What these men have in common with each other and many others is that the pioneer faces real challenges. To succeed inspiration is needed. So is perspiration. I am sure both Senior Glenn and Mr Rakofsky would agree. As all my second favorite Spanish proverb says “There are no roads, stranger, roads are made by previous travelers”
The arrival on Grand Turk of Colonel Glenn meant Grand Turk had the distinction of being the first dry land he set foot on after being launched from Cape Kennedy. One of the significant highlights of the events of 1962 was the visit of the then Vice President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, on 23 February, three days after the land fall, to escort Colonel Glenn home. History records that, despite the early hour of the arrival of the Vice President (4am), a large number of people on Grand Turk thronged to the airport to greet Mr Johnson and Colonel Glenn.
The Splashdown of John Glenn was soon followed by the arrival of Commander Scott Carpenter on 24 May 1962 at the end of his space flight in the Aurora craft. Commander Carpenter, despite being a few hundred miles off course, was met by members of the government and Colonel Glenn who had returned here to welcome Aurora safely back to earth.
Over many years, with the existence of the United States Tracking Station the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands developed a strong relationship with the United States.
Although the Base went on to close officially in 1983, this relationship between the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States remained important to the people of these Islands, not least today because of the large number of tourists visiting us by way of the Grand Turk Cruise Centre.
Almost the first thing visitors to Grand Turk coming by air see, as they leave the airport, is a replica of Friendship 7. Indeed we will be gathering next to that site tomorrow to name a road after John Glenn. Almost the first thing those arriving by ship at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre will now see is the interactive exhibition commemorating the same event and the new murals we are unveiling today. This serves to underline the place of Grand Turk in a very special moment of history.
I would like to remind you that this year 2012 we also celebrate HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. HM The Queen came to TCI, and Grand Turk, when she visited in 1966. The Royal Couple visited the American missile tracking base and heard about Grand Turk’s role. And the Turks and Caicos Police Force gained the title Royal in recognition of their work during the visit.
In closing, I should like to pay tribute to our distinguished visitors, to Carnival Corporation, the Grand Turk Cruise Centre and government colleagues for their work in organising this week’s events. This exhibit and the work of the NASA educators, who are visiting local schools during this week, will go a long way in educating our residents and many visitors on the significant and important role played by these Islands early in the space age.
