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Archives and History
of
the
Rotary Club of Space Center
(Houston), Texas, U.S.A.
Rotary International District
5890
(District 589 prior to Rotary Year
1991-92)
Club
2010
Chartered August 6,
1964
ROTARY CLUB OF SPACE CENTER
BANNER
CARRIED AROUND THE MOON
DECEMBER 21-27, 1968 ON APOLLO VIII LUNAR
MISSION
The distinctive banner of the Rotary Club
of Space Center, depicting an astronaut in an
Extra-Vehicular Activity of “Space Walk” while orbiting the
Earth, is like the banner which was carried by Rotarian
Colonel Frank Borman on Apollo VIII Lunar Mission
December 21-27, 1968 and which was later presented to
Rotary International President Togasaki in Honolulu, Hawaii by
Colonel Borman. The banner
is displayed in Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston,
Illinois. (Update June 2012
from Suzi Howe, Club President 2001-02 and District 5890
Governor 2006-07: ".....I have just left One Rotary Center and
learned that our banner is not "hanging" at Rotary
International, but rather is stored off-site with other
valuable historical documents and memorabilia in a properly
controlled environment (temperature, etc.). There is a
rotating exhibit of historical items from this
collection."
Exerts from the
1969
Proceedings of the 60th Annual Convention of Rotary
International
May 25-29, 1969 are below
Read the entire article; copy of
proceedings or transcribed
copy
Colonel Frank Borman presentation to Kiyoshi Togasaki,
President of Rotary International
If I may, I
have here a little item, part of which was carried around the
moon with us on Apollo 8 that I would like to present to
Rotary International, sir. It is a little banner of our Space
Center Club; it is a small but well traveled one. It has
been around the moon. I would like to read the inscription, if
I may:
This banner, carried across the
threshold of
space to orbit the moon
December 21, nineteen hundred and
sixty-eight
through December 27, nineteen hundred
and
sixty-eight, is presented by the crew of
APOLLO
8
to
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
in gratitude and
remembrance of Rotarians
everywhere who strive through
selfless service
to bring closer the day of universal
understanding
and peace to the Good Earth.
Frank Borman
James Lovell
William A. Anders
Apollo
8 Lunar Mission Crew
L to R: Frank Borman (command pilot),
William A. Anders, James Lovell
The above picture was
taken from the NASA Archives July 22, 2010
Frank Borman was an
honorary member of Rotary Club of Space Center
November
23, 1964 and James Lovell August 17, 1967
President Togasaki: Thank you, Frank.
Will you now please join me at the lectern at this
time?
I would like to read to you aloud the
inscription on this Certificate of
Appreciation:
The
President and members of the board of directors of Rotary
International, acting in behalf of Rotarians worldwide,
recognize and desire to acknowledge the outstanding service to
his fellowmen, and in particular to his fellow Rotarians,
rendered by Rotarian Frank Borman of the Rotary Club of Space
Center (Houston) who, in commanding the spaceship Apollo 8 in
the first manned circumnavigation of the moon, not only
achieved a technological triumph, but brought to his mission a
demonstrable humility and a sense of the eternal values which
have set an unique pattern of excellence amid a disturbed and
restless society.
We,
your 660,000 fellow Rotarians, salute you for self-less
service far beyond the call of duty.
Honolulu
May,
1969
Signed, and on behalf of the board
Kiyoshi
Togasaki,
President of Rotary International
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