This is an opinion column.

Y’all love that rocket.

The looming demise of the rusted 168-foot Saturn 1B rocket that has greeted visitors along I-65 to our state for 44 years prompted numerous pleas for it to remain and suggestion on how to replace it. (This was mine.)

It also evoked memories among a few for whom the rocket was a touchstone of their youth, a snapshot of a time in or near Huntsville when one of their parents—usually dad—worked for the space program. One among the myriad anonymous men and women who contributed to the early nascent days of the nation’s mission to explore the beyond.

From Gary Lawrence: “My dad [Joel Don Lawrence] was involved from the very beginning at Redstone when NASA was originally known as ABMA (Army Ballistic Missie Association) and worked on each program (including Saturn 5) through Sky Lab when he retired,” Gary, who then lived in. Hartselle, wrote. He now lives in North Carolina.

He wants to salvage the rocket such that it keeps its storied place alongside the highway. “Just have engineers figure out the process and cost of interior and exterior concrete support of the existing rocket—a concrete filling and exterior layering of concrete over the existing structure,” he wrote. “Then paint the concrete shell with the distinctive markings it has currently. It would likely require a once every five years or so painting, I suppose, but it would permanently incase the deterioration of the existing shell.”

Don Lawrence died in 2011. Grandaughter Lindsey attended Space Camp in Huntsville when she was 1, and later this year Gary’s own grandaughter will attend Space Camp. “So dad’s legacy continues,” Gary says.

“How about keeping and repairing the current rocket and adding the Artemis rocket (old and the new together),” suggests John Dunn. “The combination could highlight the fact that the Huntsville area has a long history in rocketry and was one of the pioneers in most rocket advances, especially to the moon and human flight into space. I’m sure both private corporations and the public could raise the funds. We should not let somebody else cart the old rocket 🚀 away .”

Matt Coulter, a Birmingham sportscaster, told me the state should repair the rocket. Ehhh… The $7 million cost for taxpayers doesn’t quite make that feasible. Clearly, though, the rocket possesses priceless meaning for Matt. He wrote:

“My father, Bob Coulter. moved a family of five to Huntsville in 1961. NASA brought us and thousands of others to Alabama. Their incredible work, literally, put a man on the moon. We wouldn’t have achieved John F. Kennedy’s goal without Huntsville’s contribution to the space program.

“My father rarely brought much work conversation to the dinner table. When he came home it was about playing catch, fixing the washing machine, or cooking on the grill. One evening, though, he informed us that in a few days, NASA was going to test the Saturn V Booster, which was his focus. “It will shake the ground and you will hear the roar, nothing to be concerned about, it will be a neat experience”, he told us.

“Sure enough, a couple of days later, I was standing in the kitchen with mom, and the windows started shaking. We ran outside to get the full experience. It was so cool. It was the first of many.

“We were practicing Little League baseball one afternoon, taking infield, when another test started. Kids just stopped—kind of enjoy the moment, then go back to playing. Our coach wasn’t having any such thing. With the engine roaring and the diamond shaking, he hit a sharp grounder to me anyway. I fielded it and kind of stood there, ‘Turn two, Matt,’ he yelled, ‘TURN TWO!’. So, I began what may have been the sloppiest double play in Little League history.

“Our team, dumbfounded, looked around at each other as to why he would make such a demand while the Saturn V was boosting.

“’Guys, this may happen during a game,’ coach yelled. ‘Are you just going to stand around while the other team scores?’

“In closing, a candid note: When people use the phrase, ‘You’re no rocket scientist”, I can say with great pride, no, but my dad was!’.

Got a personal childhood memory about the rocket you’d like to share? Talk to me at [email protected]. It just may spark a reminiscence in someone else.

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Replace our rusted NASA rocket with…

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Roy S. Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts: “Unjustifiable,” co-hosted with John Archibald. His column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as the Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Reach him at [email protected], follow him at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.