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A senior airman serving as an honor guard wore this ascot while on duty at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in early February 2003, after the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. The base was the collection site for vehicle debris and human remains after the Shuttle disintegrated during reentry over Texas. The honor guard handled flags for the caskets bearing remains of the seven astronauts who perished in the accident, and they carried the caskets to the aircraft for transport elsewhere. The young enlisted man who wore this ascot offered it and other honor guard accessories to the Museum as a tribute to the Columbia crew.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Uniforms: Military Dimensions Clothing: 47 × 47.6 × 0.3cm (18 1/2 × 18 3/4 × 1/8 in.)
Storage: 52.1 × 53.3 × 2.5cm (20 1/2 in. × 21 in. × 1 in.)
 Materials Natural Fabric
Velcro
 Inventory Number A20040256000 Credit Line Gift of Scott A. Stesney. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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