CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, guests circle around an honor guard member after the U.S. Honor Flag presentation. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the base of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center Director Bob Cabana salutes as James Loftus (right), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department presents him with the U.S. Honor Flag. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, James Loftus (right), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department; Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office; and Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana salute the Space Mirror Memorial during a U.S. Honor Flag presentation. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, Center Director Bob Cabana presents the U.S. Honor Flag to Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center Director Bob Cabana stands at the base of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror to accept the U.S. Honor Flag presented to him by James Loftus (right), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office places the U.S. Honor Flag in a secure case held by Mark Borsi NASA security director. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the base of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, James Loftus (left), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department Center salutes as Director Bob Cabana accepts the U.S. Honor Flag. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office holds onto the secure case containing the U.S. Honor Flag accompanied by Mark Borsi NASA security director (right) and a security guard. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center Director Bob Cabana stands at the base of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror awaiting the arrival of James Loftus, director of the Miami-Dade Police Department who will present to him the U.S. Honor Flag. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center Director Bob Cabana signs his autograph for a guest after the U.S. Honor Flag presentation. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, James Loftus (right), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department; Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office; and Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana salute the Space Mirror Memorial during a U.S. Honor Flag presentation. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Astronaut Memorial Mirror, Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office accepts the U.S. Honor Flag presented to him by Center Director Bob Cabana. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the base of the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center Director Bob Cabana accepts the U.S. Honor Flag presented to him by James Loftus (right), director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Miami-Dade Police Department Honor Guard Unit play the bagpipes as they make their way to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Miami-Dade Police Department Honor Guard Unit play the bagpipes as they make their way to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana and Vehicle Integration Test Office and former NASA astronaut Jerry Ross walk past an honor guard as they make their way to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag will be presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana and Vehicle Integration Test Office and former NASA astronaut Jerry Ross walk past an honor guard at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag will be presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Honor guards march to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to participate in a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Miami Beach Police Department Celtic Pride Bagpipe and Drum Corps play the bagpipes as they make their way to the Astronaut Memorial Mirror at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony. The flag will be presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Rockets are on display in an area known as the "Rocket Garden" at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where a U.S. Honor Flag presentation ceremony is taking place at the Astronaut Memorial Mirror. The flag is presented to NASA to be prepared to fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the Space Shuttle Program's final mission, STS-135. The U.S. Honor Flag has been flown nationwide, at Ground Zero and throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving their community and country, including police officers, firefighters, members of the Armed Forces and astronauts. More than 100 honor guard members traveled to the Space Coast to take part in the ceremony. After the flag returns to Earth, it will continue as a traveling memorial. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, 110 people from 36 countries wave their American flags after taking the Oath of Allegiance to become American citizens. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Acting Southeast Regional Director Rosemary Langley Melville administered the oath in the complex's Rocket Garden in honor of the upcoming Independence Day holiday. This was the first naturalization ceremony hosted by a NASA facility. An estimated 3,800 candidates will become citizens at 55 special ceremonies, including the one at Kennedy, held across the country and around the world July 1-6. Photo Credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, Searra Weeks, a fifth-grade student at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Merritt Island, sings the national anthem during a naturalization ceremony. The Transportation and Security Administration Honor Guard posted the American, Homeland Security and NASA flags at the ceremony. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administered the Oath of Allegiance to 110 people, representing 36 countries, in honor of the upcoming Independence Day holiday. This was the first naturalization ceremony hosted by a NASA facility. An estimated 3,800 candidates will become citizens at 55 special ceremonies, including the one at Kennedy, held across the country and around the world July 1-6. Photo Credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Members of the United States Air Force 45th Space Wing Honor Guard and more than a dozen 9/11 first responders take part in "The National 9/11 Flag" stitching ceremony in the Debus Conference Facility at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The contributions of NASA, Kennedy Space Center and the state of Florida were stitched into the fabric of the American Flag, which was recovered near ground zero following the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The "New York Says Thank You Foundation" is taking the flag on a cross-country journey to be restored to its original 13-stripe design using pieces of fabric from American flags destined for retirement in all 50 states. Once the flag is restored, it will become a permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center site. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A flag flies at half-staff near the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida during a Day of Remembrance wreath laying ceremony to honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. The large mirror made of black granite was designated as a national memorial by Congress and President George Bush in 1991. It honors 24 United States astronauts, including the crew members of space shuttles Columbia and Challenger, Apollo 1, and those who died in training and commercial airplane accidents. The memorial is a project of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and was paid for by Florida residents who purchased special Challenger mission automobile license plates. 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of Challenger, which broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean 73 seconds into flight on Jan. 28, 1986. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Guests and attendees salute the U.S. flag during a ceremony at the KSC Visitor Complex held in remembrance of the astronauts lost in the Apollo 1 fire: Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II and Roger B. Chaffee. Among those gathered on stage are (from left) Faith Johnson, daughter of Theodore Freeman and Martha Chaffee, daughter of Roger Chaffee, Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier and KSC Director Bill Parsons, plus former astronaut John Young and Lowell Grissom, brother of Gus Grissom (far right). At the podium is Stephen Feldman, president of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. Behind the stage is the Space Mirror Memorial, designated as a national memorial by Congress and President George Bush in 1991 to honor fallen astronauts. Their names are emblazoned on the monument’s 42-½-foot-high by 50-foot-wide black granite surface as if to be projected into the heavens. Photo credit:NASA/Kim Shiflett