Name a Virgin Galactic Spacecraft "Miss Riley...

Feed

Image 1 of 2

Author: Dwain Yeater

Started: October 5, 2007, 1:51:07 am

Target: Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic

Category: Education

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

This petition is to ask Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic to name one of their commercial spacecraft "Miss Riley" in honor of Miss Freida Riley. She was an inspirational math, chemistry and physics teacher at Big Creek High School in McDowell County, West Virginia during the early space race era of the 1950's and early 60's. Because of her dedication to education and her reputation of being a "dynamic and tough" teacher, Miss Riley had a tremendous impact on her students, especially Homer H. Hickam, Jr. as depicted in his memoir Rocket Boys, and the subsequent 1999 feature film October Sky. Although Miss Riley died in 1969 at the young age of only 31 after losing her battle with Hodgkin's Disease, to the last, she insisted on teaching even when it was necessary for her students to carry her on a stretcher to her classroom. In acknowledgment of her near-icon status, especially for teachers across the nation and the world, we are signing this petition in support of naming a spacecraft in honor of Miss Riley for the purpose of spreading the same message she had for her students. That people can overcome their limited opportunities and aspire to fulfill their dreams, and reach for the stars.