A mural depicting an astronaut from Plattsburgh who died when the Columbia Space Shuttle broke up during reentry in 2003 was dedicated on Sunday. The mural depicts Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson in his spacesuit above Earth. A ribbon was cut by his family, who traveled from Arizona and Texas for the mural dedication. Anderson's widow Sandra received the key to the city from Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest.
"And I want to just thank you so much for honoring Michael," said Anderson. "If he was here he'd probably, you know, he was just so unassuming that he would probably just shake his head and go 'Oh it was nothing,' you know? But I just want to thank you all for honoring us in the way that you have, and you just have our heartfelt appreciation."
Anderson's family were also the grand marshals of Plattsburgh's Fourth of July parade.