Unitarian Universalist Astronaut Laurel Clark Remembered with Flowers, Bagpipes, and Warm Recollections

Laurel Salton Clark

(Boston, February 12, 2003) On February 5, under the grey and cool Texas sky, the Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, minister of the Olympia Brown UU congregation of Racine, Wisconsin, remembered his parishioner Laurel Salton Clark with affection in a private memorial service.

The service was held at the Armand Bayou Nature Center in Houston and included elements from Laurel's wedding to her husband John; reflections of friends; and water which symbolized her friends' tears as well as nourishing rain.

The service began with the singing of Carolyn McDade's "Spirit of Life," which, Larsen said, had been sung at the Clarks' wedding and was a favorite of Laurel's mother, Marge. In his opening words, Larsen recounted the story of the great musician Puccini as he died. He said, "Puccini was dying of cancer and wanted to work on one last opera. He didn't want to rest, and he said to his friends, 'If I don't get [this opera] done in time, you should finish it.' He died writing 'Turandot,' and his friends did finish it. And [the great music impresario] Toscanini did it in Milan and proclaimed, 'this is where the master ends, and where his friends begin.' Puccini's friends helped to finish his great work. So it is with Laurel: she too loved music, and her life ended with so many things she wanted to do. It is now up to her friends to help complete all those things."

There were reflections from Laurel's mother, Marge; from her husband, John, about their meeting in the Navy Seals program; from Laurel's friends who wore flowered blouses in honor of their friend, 'Floral Laurel.' Larsen said, "We lit a candle in her memory, and we had a picture of her with some flowers next to it, and some water. We asked people to come forward and take a flower, and sprinkle some water onto her picture. The water represented our tears, as well as the rain which makes things grow, because Laurel has nourished us." One wonderful thing, Larsen said, was that "the picture, after people had sprinkled it, had drops on it, which defaced it a little, but just enough to think, 'it's cool this way...there are bumps where the water hit it, to represent our tears."

The service ended with the playing of "Amazing Grace," which had been performed at Laurel and John's wedding, and "Scotland the Brave," which was, said Larsen, "the last song the astronauts heard in space, played because Laurel loved her Scottish heritage."

Following Larsen's return to Racine, there was a Wisconsin memorial service attended by members of Congress, the mayor of Racine, and the governor, in which there were again reflections on Clark's life, and music from the Olympia Brown choir.

The lasting lesson of Laurel Clark's life, in these days of impending war, may come from her statement from space: "Life continues in lots of places, and life is a magical thing."

The LAUREL CLARK MEMORIAL FUND
is being administered by the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church of Racine, Wisconsin. The church has established the fund with permission of the Salton and Clark families. Laurel's brother Dan, and her mother, Marge Brown, will determine how to best use the funds depending on the amount raised. Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church will manage the fund. Contributions should be mailed to:

LAUREL CLARK MEMORIAL FUND
c/o The Associated Bank
1722 Douglas Ave.
Racine, WI, 53404

Please note that all checks must be made out to:
LAUREL CLARK MEMORIAL FUND.

For additional information:

• Text of Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen's February 5 reflection on Laurel Clark's life
• A memorial service for Laurel Clark was conducted at the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 21, 2003. Members of Clark's family attend this congregation.
• You are invited to visit the city of Racine, Wisconsin's website honoring Laurel Clark.
• Additional UUA news coverage on the death of Laurel Clark
• Media Coverage of February 21, 2003 Albuquerque Memorial Service

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