A Brief History
The Foundation was formed by several private citizens who found in each other a
common dream to give recognition to and honor the crew of Apollo 1 in a way
that has been lacking in our country's history.
In 1997 Launch Complex 34 was overgrown with bushes, weeds, and wild pepper
trees. A lonely kiosk stood at the perimeter of the pad with old photos
desecrated by years of exposure to wind and sun. A faded "Abandon in Place"
sign was stamped on one leg of the launch pedestal. Two flame deflectors stood
off to the side as if abandoned in time. Only one wall of the building that
once housed fuel and electrical lines to the massive service gantry survived
the years. Two small plaques affixed to the pedestal reminded the world of what
had happened on this spot...
Godspeed the crew of Apollo 1...
In December 1998 we incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in the State of
Florida. Over the next eighteen months, we formed cleanup crews, replaced
missing fire bricks, re-stenciled the "Abandon in Place" stamp, and began to
form a solid base from which to build a memorial. This process taught us about
other historical events that occurred at Launch Complex 34 and we grew to
include them all. In September 2000 we were certified by the United States
Government as a 501(c)(3) corporation, enabling tax-deductible donations.
Others joined us as we moved forward. We have found a great deal of support by
individuals from all walks of life who have all said, "It's about time!".
Follow the links to our goals to learn of our plans and dreams and come join
us.
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