Astronauts' unsung hero to be remembered

The Lowell Milken Center and family of planetary scientist Gene Shoemaker will remember and celebrate the unsung hero Sept. 4 at the center, located at 4 S. Main St.

Heather Griffith, of Fort Scott, brought Shoemaker's name and story to the center one afternoon. From there, the center was able to collaborate with her and do independent research to create an exhibit detailing the life of the history-changing scientist, who was Griffith's great-uncle.

In a reception attended by Shoemaker's family, the Lowell Milken Center will formally acknowledge the new exhibit titled "Ashes on the Moon." Shoemaker established the field of astrogeology early in his career and trained Neil Armstrong and the crew of the Apollo 11 voyage.

Killed in a car wreck in 1997, Shoemaker's ashes were taken to the moon and scattered there by the Lunar Prospector spacecraft. He is the only person who remains have been taken to the moon.

Lowell Milken Center staff always encourage individuals to explore and retell the stories of unsung heroes in history. Most stories are found by researching deeply into a famous event or time period and finding an unknown individual who changed the course of history. Less common, though, is the discovery of an unsung hero among one's ancestry.

"The center thrives upon these unexpected stories," Lowell Milken Center Executive Director Norm Conard said. "The very purpose of our presence here in this community is to keep history alive, and stories like Gene Shoemaker's allow us to do that in a captivating way. We're so excited to be able to honor and share the life of Gene Shoemaker at this reception with his family. Local stories bring a unique element to our center. We want to uncover the vast amounts of dynamic history within Fort Scott and its residents."

The center discovers, develops and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive difference on the course of history. Through project-based learning, people throughout the U.S. and the world learn that each person has the responsibility and the power to take actions that "repair the world."

For more information, visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org.