C mpass Rose

A monthly publication from the City of Nassau Bay

March 2023

NASSAU BAY, THE MOON TREES HAVE LANDED!

Thank you to all the volunteers and residents who participated in Nassau Bay’s historic Moon Tree planting ceremonies on February 10th and 11th, honoring our community’s deep-rooted history in space. The four Moon Trees (two sycamore trees at City Hall and two loblolly pines at David Braun Park) are the next generation of trees grown from seeds carried to and around the moon by Astronaut Stuart “Stu” Roosa, command module pilot for Apollo 14. A former smoke jumper with the forest service, Astronaut Roosa carried 450 seeds into space to study the effects of zero gravity and radiation.

Highlights of the ceremony included a presentation by longtime resident and “Astronaut Maker” at NASA, Mr. George Abbey, who delivered an insider’s view of the Apollo program from inception to Apollo 17, showing slides, video, and naming each member of the crew from Nassau Bay, impressively speaking from memory with no notes. Rosemary Roosa, president of the Moon Tree Foundation, shared her father’s Apollo 14 mission and legacy with the Moon Trees. Looking to the future, Jimmy Spivey shared exciting initiatives for the next generation of space exploration with the Artemis program, which many residents are currently supporting.

Friday’s event concluded with a special reception catered by Mediterraneo, and Saturday’s event was catered by Chic-fil-a. Neighborhood children participated in the planting ceremony at David Braun Park which concluded with the launch of 14 rockets by BSA Scout Troop 1966 and Pack 1965 and a space themed rock hunt hosted by Nassau Bay Rocks.