1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I’m writing as a Hiawatha, Iowa resident who is deeply alarmed by the proposal to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. This is no longer simply about moving an artifact. It has now come out that Discovery would be taken from the Smithsonian after being cut into pieces - irreparably damaging one of America’s greatest icons and erasing her future value for engineers and researchers. No one wants to see the flagship of America’s shuttle fleet literally hacked apart for politics, and at significant taxpayer expense. Discovery deserves a place of honor in our nation’s capital where millions of students, families, and visitors from around the world visit her annually. I urge you to speak out and do everything in your power to stop this wasteful and destructive relocation. Protecting Discovery means protecting a symbol of American ingenuity for generations to come. Thank you very much for your leadership and consideration.