Funny picture

The plaque reads...

The people of the republic of Turkey and the United States of America working together will explore the far reaches of space.

Through our joint efforts the world will be a better place.

This statue has been erected in the memory of James Reilly who brought the Turkish Flag and the Marmaris pennant to the space.

June 3, 1997

Marmaris Municipality

American astronaut Reilly to carry Turkish flag into space

Ankara- American astronaut James Reilly on Wednesday received a small Turkish flag from Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli at a ceremony where Reilly kissed the flag and touched it to his forehead. The astronaut plans to carry the Turkish flag into space.

At the ceremony, Reilly said he hoped that one day a Turkish astronaut might travel into outer space, the TDN Parliamentary Bureau reported.

Kalemli told Reilly, "Our flag is sacred for us and very beautiful. It has a beauty to match the immense depth of space."

Kalemli said that he would prefer that a Turkish astronaut take the Turkish flag into space but he was very pleased that a Turkish friend was carrying the flag.

The Parliament speaker said that receiving the Turkish flag required a special ceremony and insisted that Reilly should also kiss the flag and touch it to his forehead three times before taking it. The American astronaut received great applause when he carried out the "Turkish-style ceremony." Reilly also presented Kalemli with an American flag and a plaque with space photos as well as a Turkish flag.

Kalemli said he would keep the flag in the museum of Parliament. Reilly said he and all the crew would be honored to take the Turkish flag into space.

Reilly said that although the ceremonial aspect surrounding the flag is stronger in Turkey than in the United States, the belief in what the flag stands for is the same. When reminded that some people in America burn their flag or use it as clothing, he replied that only a few people do that.

Reilly is one of NASA's 100 active astronauts and will take the Turkish flag along with Russian, American and Marmaris flags to the Russian space station Mir where he and the crew will deliver supplies and exchange crew members during a 10-day mission.

The ceremony, carried out under the auspices of the Turkish American Business, Education and Culture Development Committee (TABEK) and NASA, also foresees the establishment of an exchange program in which students of Ankara University will benefit from the NASA network and take courses on space-related topics. TAbEK Chairwoman Suhella Gencsoy of TABEK said the project had an estimated cost of $100 million. She also pointed out that this would not be the first Turkish flag to be flown in space.

Turkish Air Force commander Gen. Ahmet Corekci met the delegation and expressed support for the TAbEK program adding, "I also believe that the future lies in space."

The project also foresees a children's program to be realized with a Turkish private school.