Monument near Johnson Space Center honors Black trailblazers of NASA

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Blocks away from NASA's Johnson Space Center, a new monument is bringing some of Space City's hidden heroes into the light.

Black astronauts, scientists, engineers, and civil rights leaders are being recognized for their work helping change the course of America's space efforts.

Organizers said there are no other monuments like this in Houston.

The installation honors eight people and groups that shaped NASA and spaceflight.

The monument is called Earth Rise, and it's located on the grounds of St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Nassau Bay, just four blocks from Johnson Space Center. The monument was unveiled during a ceremony on Sunday.

"We just kind of wanted to share some of the hidden faces and hidden figures because we would love for people to recognize that it took a lot of people to get where we've got and where we're going," St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church Reverend Mike Stone said.

The $125,000 piece was paid for by the John and Joseph Talbot Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, according to organizers.

Among those honored was former NASA Administrator and Astronaut, Charles Bolden Jr.

"The monument is dedicated to honoring people of color and underrepresented groups who have contributed to the space program through the years," Bolden said. "To be quite honest, I'm always embarrassed at things like this because I don't think I deserve to be there, but I'm privileged to be included among this group."

Bolden described himself as a longtime member of the church, where he served in leadership roles and participated in church ministries when he lived in the area.

Church leaders called the monument both a work of public art and a statement about who gets remembered in public spaces.

"When people close their eyes and the first picture that comes to their mind with the word astronaut, it's probably Neil Armstrong, maybe it's Buzz Aldrin," Rev. Stone said. "But for us, it's Charlie Bolden."

Those recognized include:

• Ed Dwight
• Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.
• George Robert Carruthers
• Ruth Bates Harris
• NASA Astronaut Group 8
• Dr. Bernard Harris Jr.
• Sunita Williams
• Charles Bolden Jr.

"It's intended to give people inspiration and hope to help people realize that through racial reconciliation, which is a big, big push in the Diocese of Texas, through racial reconciliation and an understanding that diversity is our strength and diversity makes us all better," Bolden said.

The monument bears the phrase, "We can do more together." Organizers said it serves as a reminder to those reading to not let the size of the dream decide whether you chase it, even if it takes you all the way to space.

"You can do whatever you want to do. Don't ever let other people define you, tell you who you are," Bolden said. "Particularly, for women and people of color, you can do whatever you want to do, but you've got to study. You've got to work hard."

The monument is free and open to the public year-round.