A Salute To Eclipse '72                by Mrs. John E. Dawson All aboard cruise ship Olympia To see the 'Eclipse total' A pilgrimage for Science Tre's Educational On board were men of knowledge With telescopes in hand Full of scientific data That Dr. Sigler planned For the amateur astronomer Drs. Hess, Carr, Hamilton and Hall Opened up the celestial heavens To the joy of one and all While standing on the "Fantail" In the dawn might seem absurd Many gathered there to learn and share Mr. Robinson's friend "the bird" For those amateur photographers Mr. Little gave advice So the many Eclipse pictures Would be clear, neat and precise While standing near the "Bow-sprit" With plastic bags in tow Dr. Schaefer caught air that came from where The polluted breezes blow The celebrity, Scott Carpenter Pioneering sea and air Gave a run down of his courageous acts While longer grew his hair We salute Drs. Brooks and Chamberlain Navigators of whom we'll brag Their rendezvous with ECLIPSE '72 Helped the crew to raise " the flag" We thank our cruise director We salute the Captain too We're indebted to the many hands That compile Olympia's crew And though the Eclipse is over And "totality"was won We look forward to future learnings 'Neath the everlasting "Sun" --Mrs. John E. Dawson …the cruise ship became a huge laboratory that had a stimulating effect on all passengers… --F. Bramwell …I simply absorbed the spirit of many enthusiastic and knowledgeable people —staff and fellow passengers. --L Spiegler …The stimulation from the eclipse staff and fellow passengers aboard ship provided the best and hardest working vacation I ever took! And the "work"was such marvelous fun! --M. Becker It will live forever in our memories… --D. Attaway One of the greatest adventures of my life… --Rev O. H. "I've matured in such a special way"… --Gred D. (16 years old) We shall never be the same the rest of our lives --Sherman S. One of the most interesting aspects of the cruise was the education and experiences it provided for children as well as adults. Since it has been estimated that any one person's chances of witnessing a totally eclipsed sun are one in 25,000, the children who viewed the solar eclipse aboard the Olympia felt very special. --Elsie Murray,Teacher.