Lot 69
Apollo 1, 1967, NASA Space Medal of Honor Award Certificate (professionally framed and matted, 19x18") This original, hand-written, award certificate reads, in part: "The President of the United States of America / Awards this / Congressional Space Medal of Honor / to Edward H. White II / Serving with NASA for 5 years, Lt. Col. Edward H. White II, USAF, became the first American astronaut to walk in space, spending 22 minutes outside the Gemini IV spacecraft in June 1965. Colonel White's extraordinary accomplishment captured the imagination of the Nation and energized the U.S. space program in its race to the Moon. Perishing in the tragic fire inside the Apollo 1 capsule on January 27, 1967, Colonel White paid the ultimate price in service to the Nation. As a result of the accident, NASA made significant changes and redesigns to the program, including a strict commitment to safety, leading to Apollo's eventual success…". The certificate has the Presidential seal at top, the White House address and the date, December 17, 1997 (the date the Medal of Honor was awarded), at the bottom and is hand signed by President William J. Clinton.
Included in the frame at the bottom of the mat are a sterling silver FLOWN GT-4 medallion carried by White on his space walk AND a gold plated Apollo 1 medallion. This latter medallion is obviously not flown. Gold plated medallions were intended as presents to family members after the flight. They are significantly rarer than are the sterling silver versions of these medallions.
The actual Medal of Honor (the only such Medal ever offered for sale) was sold at auction in April 2007 for a record breaking $90,000+. A photocopy of the certificate offered here was included with the medal as the consignor had no interest in selling this certificate at the time. Times change due to circumstances and it is our pleasure to be able to offer this national treasure at this time. This is the only such certificate that has ever come on the market.
As with the Medal itself, proceeds from this sale will be used to fund the Ed White Scholarship Foundation. The funds will be used to award scholarships in Aeronautics and Astronautics to qualified students at universities around the country.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000.
Ex. the Ed White Family collection.
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