Astonaut Visit a Blast
Leland Melvin, NASA Astronaut, came home to Lynchburg on September 5, 2008 to say “thank you” to the schools and teacher that helped launch him into success. On that day, Melvin visited Dunbar Middle School, his alma mater, to talk to the students about following their dreams. “You can do anything you put your mind to if you believe in yourself and anything you dream you can do too. So dream and believe and the world is your oyster – you can do anything”, said Melvin.
Melvin showed the wide–eyed students video from his trip to space hoping to give them some extra inspiration to work hard. Those students were also able to ask him questions about his life and successes.
Melvin went to space earlier this year on space shuttle Atlantis as part of a crew to visit the international space station. Despite his enormous success, the astronaut stays very grounded and humble, “I’m a normal guy and, ya know? You just work hard and you try and you can achieve”.
Melvin is a graduate of Lynchburg’s Heritage High School and says his success started in the classroom. His visit is, in part, to thank those teachers who kept him on the right track.
“It takes a village to raise a child and my village was not only the school system but my parents, my family, my community but especially the teachers at Perrymont, Dunbar and Heritage who helped shape and mold me and help me believe in myself to get me to where I am today.”
As part of his visit, Melvin also attended the Heritage/ Glass Football game. During halftime, the school retired his high school football jersey.
Melvin’s journey is not over yet. He will go back into space next October. When asked if he would come home again he responded with a confident yes. “I will continue to come back to share the experience. And after the next mission, next October, hopefully I’ll come back with better pictures.”
