The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 14, April 8, 2007, Article 20

ASTRONAUT'S MEDAL OF FREEDOM, THOUGHT DESTROYED, SEIZED BY FBI

The Lake County News-Sun of Illinois reported this week on the 
appearance and seizure of an astronaut's Medal of Freedom, long 
thought destroyed.

"An eBay entry advertised a rare medal bearing the name of Apollo 13 
Capt. James Lovell. 

"Lovell, a North Shore resident who owns Lovell's of Lake Forest 
restaurant, had what he thought was the only Presidential Medal of 
Freedom created for him. 

"It turns out the eBay ad, which warned: 'This thing was destined 
to be destroyed,' was right on."

[The medal has been recovered by the FBI. Lovell, played by Tom Hanks 
in the 1995 movie about the doomed 1970 Apollo 13 moon mission, is 
famous for his phrase, "Houston, we have a problem." After returning 
safely to earth after their harrowing ordeal, President Richard Nixon 
presented the three Apollo 13 astronauts with the medals -- the 
nation's highest civilian award for meritorious service. But a defect 
was discovered in the medal destined for Lovell, and a new one was made. 
The first was to be destroyed, yet somehow survived. It drew a high 
bid of $5,000 before being pulled from the site. According to a Chicago 
Sun-Times article, "another Presidential Medal of Freedom recently was 
sold - legitimately, by its owner - for $50,000."

To read the complete article (and view a picture of the medal), see: 
Full Story

To read the Chicago Sun-Times article, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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