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Hempstead, New York, U.S. June 17, 2022. Statue of astronaut Sally Ride - the first American woman in space - has unveiling and dedication ceremony at the new Sally Ride Circle in front of Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island.

Astronaut Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 23, 2022

Honoring America’s first woman in space

“About time! Love it” – Ellen Thomas Ehmer, former Gruman worker

Though it was near high noon on a hot day – not my favorite for capturing outdoor photos – I thoroughly enjoyed the dedication ceremony for the Sally Ride statue in front of Cradle of Aviation Museum on June 17th.

my Photo Gallery – Sally Ride statue dedication ceremony (Plus, click each photo below to see larger one.)

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Officials (on left) and students (on right) who won essay contest on Sally Ride pull ropes to uncover statue of Sally Ride during dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

The inspiring seven-foot bronze statue, titled “The First American Woman in Space,” powerfully commands the new Sally Ride Circle.

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Andy Parton, President of CAM, speaks at podium in front of covered statue of astronaut Sally Ride during dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

VIDEO: Andy Parton & Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips (Read much of Phillips’ speech near end of this post): 

– Sally Ride statue –

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Officials and leaders (on left), and students (on right) who won essay contest, pull ropes to uncover statue of astronaut Sally Ride during dedication ceremony Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

– Sally Ride statue –

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Filmmaker Steven C. Barber, the Project Manager of the statue of Sally Ride, speaks during in its dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

The Project Manager of the “The First American Woman in Space” statue is Steven Barber, a documentary filmmaker. (see above photo)

As Andy Parton, President of Cradle of Aviation Museum, said while thanking those who helped make the statue possible:

“….And, finally, a huge vote of thanks to the man who had the vision and passion to make this project work – Mr. Steve Barber….”


Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. George Lundeen, of Lundeen Sculpture, is one of three sculptors of astronaut Sally Ride statue. They all attended its dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry)

Project Manager Steven Barber introduced the 3 sculptors of Sally Ride statue – GEORGE LUNDEEN, MARK LUNDEEN, and JOEY BAINER (see above photo):

“I want to introduce, in my humble option – and they get a little embarrassed when I say this, but it is true:

These are not just the greatest sculptures in America, these are the greatest sculptures in the world, for many reasons,
the Family Lundeen, George and Mark,
who have believed in me, which is hard to do sometimes,

So anyway, their unwavering spirit has been amazing for me.

So everybody, put your hands together for George and Mark Lundeen, and master sculptor Joey Bainer, behind the tree hiding, Joey is the heir apparent….”

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Alexandria Leggitt, who’s working with Barber trying to build ‘Hidden Figures’ monument, poses by the statue of Sally Ride during its dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Project Manager Steven Barber also introduced ALEXANDRIA LEGGITT (see above photo):

“….And I do want to also mention we have a great IBM’er, an executive from IBM here, Alexandria Leggit, who has been tireless in the last 2 years.
She has been working with me trying to build the ‘Hidden Figures’ monument.

“So we want to start moving into diversity, which obviously Sally Ride is…”

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Julia Lauria-Blum, the Curator of the Women Air Force Service Pilots of WWII Exhibit at American Air Power Museum, poses at statue of astronaut Sally Ride during dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

JULIA LAURIA-BLUM is another of the many accomplished women who attended the Sally Ride statue dedication ceremony. (see above photo)

Now one of the curators at the American Airpower Museum, previously Lauria-Blum was a Curatorial Assistant at the Cradle of Aviation Museum for 14 years. 

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. At far left, Elaine Phillips, the Nassau County Comptroller – and CAM Board of Directors: Vice-Chair Anne Shybunko-Moore, and trustees Peter Stearn, Teresa Ferraro, Dr. Kishore Kuncham, and Mike Stromer – attend dedication for statue of Sally Ride at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com )

Plaque inscription on statue pedestal:

SALLY RIDE
First American Woman in Space

Commissioned by
Matson Family Foundation
Peter Diamandis: on behalf of the XPRIZE Foundation
Maria Shriver

Project Manager:  Steven C. Barber

Sculptors: Mark Lundeen – Joey Bainer – George Lundeen

Dedicated  June 17, 2022

Cradle of Aviation


Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Middle and high school student winners of an essay contest about Sally Ride pose in front of statue of Sally Ride during dedication ceremony at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2022 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips’ speech:
  (video of speech is near start of post)

“…So you’re probably wondering why the Comptroller of Nassau County is standing here talking to you ….

But, when I was elected this past November,
I was the first woman to be elected as the Nassau County Comptroller,
thank you, thank you, yes, and I won’t be the last

And when we actually had our inauguration ceremony here at the Cradle of Aviation,
and beforehand, I was thinking,
What do I say?

You know, I’ve been in politics for X amount of years,
I’ve been in the financial service industry for 35 years,
nobody wants to hear that

And I thought about this museum,
and I thought about women who have made first in science

And Sally Ride came to my mind,
and that day I looked at the young women in the audience
and said:

How do you become the first woman,
or the second, or the fifth, or the one-hundredth?
but how do you get ahead in life?

And the answer, one of the answers, is hard work, obviously
but it is also saying Yes when opportunity presents itself

and I will tell you, there are many times
in many of my jobs, careers in the past
Was I fully fully prepared to do the job?
the answer is No
but I said Yes

And you think about it,
Sally Ride, she didn’t grow up thinking she was going to be an astronaut, the first American woman in space

An opportunity came about,
And she applied, out of thousands and thousands of women and men

So, to the young women out in the audience,
When an opportunity comes, it’s OUR responsibility to say YES….”


FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post) – Garden City, N.Y., U.S. June 17, 2022. Statue of astronaut Sally Ride – the first American woman in space – has unveiling and dedication ceremony at the circle in front of Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)


Sally Ride Statue at CAM: my PHOTO GALLERY

CAM site:  Cradle of Aviation Museum

Sculptors:  Lundeen Sculpture@lundeensculpture

Steven C. Barber: @StevenWhartonBarber

Space.com article: space.com/astronaut-sally-ride-statue-cradle-aviation

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2015 PHOTO: Below, see the metal sculpture (at left) previously in front of Cradle of Aviation Museum:

Hempstead, NY, U.S. June 17, 2022. Sally Ride statue unveiled at Cradle of Aviation Museum (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Garden City, N.Y., USA. December 12, 2015. Metal rocket sculpture appears to soar into sky in circle in front of Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com )

Garden City, NY, USA. Nov. 6, 2018. Woman is wearing shirt with TAYLOR RAYNOR written on it at Nassau County Democrats Election Day Results Watch at Garden City Hotel. Candidate Raynor won the NYS Assembly AD18 election.

Purple Reign Day for Long Island Voters

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 12, 2018

  • PHOTO VIDEO – Nassau County Democratic Committee, Election Night:


Perhaps more media outlets than usual covered the Nassau County Democratic Election Results Watch this Nov. 6th because one of the most hotly contested Congressional races nationally was NY District 2, and the Democratic candidate, Liuba Grechen Shirley, was on site there at the Garden City Hotel.

Garden City, New York, USA. November 6, 2018. Nassau County Democrats watch Election Day results at Garden City Hotel, Long Island. KEVIN THOMAS was elected New York State Senator for 6th District. His wife RINCY is standing next to him. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. Nov. 6, 2018. Nassau County Democrats watch Election Day results at Garden City Hotel, Long Island. KEVIN THOMAS was elected New York State Senator for 6th District. His wife RINCY is standing next to him. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

A surprise victor at the event was Kevin Thomas, who, despite modest campaign funds and name recognition, strategically defeated Republican 29-year incumbent Senator Kemp Hannon. Chase, who was five when his opponent started in office, will become the first Indian American NYS senator.

Garden City, New York, USA. Nov. 6, 2018. Congressman TOM SUOZZI, accompanied on stage by his wife HELENE and their daughter and two sons, speaks after winning re-election as U.S. Rep. for New York's 3rd district. Nassau County Democrats watched Election Day results at Garden City Hotel. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. Nov. 6, 2018. Congressman TOM SUOZZI, accompanied on stage by his wife HELENE and their daughter and two sons, speaks after winning re-election as U.S. Rep. for New York’s 3rd district. Nassau County Democrats watched Election Day results at Garden City Hotel. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Though there wasn’t a similar upset outcome for the race between Republican 26-year incumbent Pete King and blue wave, pink wave, first time candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley, it was a significantly close contest.

Each candidate was in the lead at some point, making for a long night of emotional crests and troughs for Grechen Shirley and her supporters, many of them wearing Liuba campaign t-shirts and buttons.

Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (NY-05) and Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03), both easily winning re-election, each spoke on stage to supporters who clapped and cheered enthusiastically.

  • Democratic candidates & elected officials at event (most are in photo video at top of blog) included:

Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, NY05
Congressman Tom Suozzi, NY03
Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate NY02

NYS Senator John Brooks, District 5

NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, District 35, Minority Leader
NYS Senator-Elect  James Gaughran, District 8
NYS Senator Todd Kaminsky, District 9
NYS Senator-Elect Anna Kaplan, District 7
NYS Senator-Elect Kevin Thomas, District 6

NYS Assemblywoman-Elect Judy Griffin, District 21
Mike Reid, NYS Assembly candidate, District 14
NYS Assemblywoman-Elect Taylor Raynor, District 18

Joanne Curran Perrucci, candidate for N.C. District Court Judge, D4

Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Supervisor
Laura Gillen, Hempstead Town Supervisor


Feature Photo at topGarden City, NY, USA. Nov. 6, 2018. Woman wears shirt with TAYLOR RAYNOR written on it at Nassau County Democrats Election Day Results Watch at Garden City Hotel. Candidate Raynor won the NYS Assembly AD18 election.


2018 Election Night, Garden City:  PHOTO GALLERY

“2018 Election Night” Photo Video : vimeo.com/annparry/election2018

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