The contractors in the Naval Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (NEXWDC) N5 department paid homage to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Day of Remembrance by donning throwback attire resembling what some may picture as standard NASA dress from the era of the 1960s. Short sleeve white dress shirts, thin black ties, pocket protectors, and horn-rimmed glasses were a nod to the quintessential NASA employees of days past. According to their website, each January NASA pauses to honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. Observance and remembrance of this solemn day was organized by Mr. Michael Swenson, a doctrine writer working in the NEXWDC N5. Swenson, a retired Marine Corps Captain, says he organized the event to cultivate solidarity with NASA heroes and within the NEXWDC N5. Participants in the Day of Remembrance, after being met with curiosity and goodwill throughout the day, plan to make the observance an annual occasion. The inaugural event at NEXWDC N5 may have been a small step towards honoring our national heroes, but those involved hope it will cause a giant leap towards education and recognition of astronauts, their families, and the NASA story.
