“From the Archives” – A Unique Flyover
On Thursday, April 17, 2012, students and teachers, along with many parents and neighbors of Saint Mary School, witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event. The space shuttle Discovery, riding atop a specially modified Boeing 747, made a ceremonial flight around the District of Columbia, flying over various landmarks such as the Washington Monument.
The plane and shuttle passed over Saint Mary Cemetery and the Wilson Bridge on their way to the shuttle’s permanent home at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The school playground and cemetery were crowded with throngs of children and adults watching this amazing sight. The pupils waved and cheered as the plane with its unique “passenger” flew overhead. Discovery was the first NASA shuttle to be retired.
— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian
In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series in 2022. An archive of the features is located here.