Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-16-2018 08:47 AM
A full-sized bronze statue of Apollo astronaut Roger B. Chaffee will be unveiled in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
Chaffee's widow Martha and daughter Sheryl Lyn plan to attend the event, taking place at the corner of East Fulton Street and Sheldon Avenue NE, near the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.
The Michigan Military Preservation Society (MMPS), together with the Lowell American Legion Post #152, raised the funds for the statue. MMPS is a non-profit organization of veterans whose vision is to honor historical contributions made by West Michigan vets.
CMDR David L. Thompson, USN (Ret.) chaired the project, with MMPS board members Dan Pfeiffer and Bud Vierson. This group chose respected sculptor and Grand Rapids native J. Brett Grill to undertake the project.
"We conducted a nationwide search to find the absolute finest possible sculptor to handle this commission," said Thompson. "We wanted an artist who worked in bronze, and who could create a lifelike work of art. To our delight, we found Brett Grill, and we couldn't be more pleased with the final product."
"For a statue of this caliber, it was critically important to me that every detail is accurate," added Grill. "For a space suit that never flew on a mission, that meant doing some serious digging to learn some of the details needed to recreate Roger in his pressure suit and holding his helmet."
This accuracy can only add value to a statue that will reside on the NW corner of East Fulton Street and Sheldon Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids, near the entrance of the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.
Gordon Eliot Reade Member
Posts: 35 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
posted 05-16-2018 09:08 AM
I wish I could be there for the dedication. I feel that it isn't just Roger B. Chaffee who's being honored but everyone who worked on Apollo in any capacity at all.
Wehaveliftoff Member
Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 05-19-2018 01:05 PM
WZZM TV 13 Grand Rapids, Michigan tribute video to the man and his bronze statue by its creators:
ManInSpace Member
Posts: 114 From: Brooklin, Ontario Canada Registered: Feb 2018
posted 05-19-2018 01:24 PM
Great post and link about Chaffee. Thank you.
Wehaveliftoff Member
Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 05-19-2018 01:44 PM
Here are photos of the statue from WOOD TV8's Evan Dean on Twitter.
Gordon Eliot Reade Member
Posts: 35 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
posted 05-19-2018 04:42 PM
Very nice. Now what does the inscription on the plaque say?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-19-2018 05:59 PM
The plaque reads:
Roger B. Chaffee Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy 1935-1967 Grand Rapids Native — US Navy Aviator — NASA Astronaut
Roger Chaffee perished during a test of Apollo 1 on 27 January 1967 with crewmates Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Edward White II.
MLive.com has a video (below) photo gallery from the unveiling.
Gordon Eliot Reade Member
Posts: 35 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
posted 05-19-2018 09:53 PM
The statue itself is magnificent. It couldn’t be any more perfect. However I feel the inscription is incomplete. They should have added the words, "As a direct result of their sacrifice mankind successfully reached the moon on July 20th, 1969."
As it is it gives the false impression that his death was in vain.
Jurg Bolli Member
Posts: 977 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
posted 05-16-2018 08:47 AM
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