LAWRENCE COUNTY - FEBRUARY 17, 2024 - Lawrence County Veterans Officer Brad Bough requested the Lawrence County Commissioners to make April 8, 2024 a county holiday to honor Lawrence County Astronaut "Virgil G. Grissom" during their meeting this week.
Photo: Several photos and newspaper accounts are displayed at the Mitchell City Hall
On January 27, 1967, a flash fire broke out inside the command module during a test on the launch pad. Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee died that day.
Grissom was the second man in space which happened on July 21, 1961. Virgil G. Grissom would have turned 98 this year, who birthday was on April 3, 1926.
The Mitchell native graduated from Mitchell High School in 1944.
However, Bough proposal got a cold reception on his proposal by all three county commissioners.
Photo: A photo is displayed in Mitchell City Hall
" My hang up it would cost the county $35,000 to $40,000 to have a a paid day off for county employees," said Lawrence County Commissioner Dustin Gabhart.
" I do not think that would be fair to the other two astronauts who were from Lawrence County. If we did it for one, we have to do it for all, that would be a cost of $90,000 to $120,000," said County Commissioner President Wally Branham.
" I very much appreciate Grissom, we do not want the community to misunderstand this is a matter of practicality. I think at the very least we need to take more time to even consider doing this," said Lawrence County Commissioner Rodney Fish.
Lawrence County Commissioner Dustin Gabhart made the motion to table the request with all three voting to do the same.
Lawrence County's other two astronauts include Charlie Walker and Ken Bowersox.
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