A Celebration of
Robert Burnham, Jr.
There is no sound in
the forest -
only the phantom
murmur
of the far wind
and the wind’s shadow
drifting
as smoke
through ebon branches;
there a single star
glistens in the heart of
night….
A star!
Look skyward now…
and see
above…INFINITY
Vast and dark and deep
and endless….your
heritage.
Silent clouds of stars,
Other worlds uncountable and other suns
beyond numbering
and realms of
fire-mist and star-cities
as grains of sand….
drifting…
Across the void….
Across the gulf of
night….
Across the endless
rain of years….
Across the ages.
Listen!
Were you the star-born you should hear
That silent music of which the ancient sages spoke
Though in silent words…
Here then is our quest
and our world
and our Home.
Come with me now, Pilgrim of the stars,
For our time is upon us and our eyes
shall see the far
country
and the shining
cities of Infinity
which the wise men knew
in ages past, and
shall know again
in ages yet to be.
Look to the east….there shines
the Morning Star…soon
shall the sunrise come…
We await the Dawn.
Rise, oh eternal light;
Awaken the World!
With trumpets and cymbals and harp and the sound
of glad song!
And now…
The clouds of night are rolled away;
Sing welcome to the Dawn
Of the bright new day!
-Robert Burnham,
Jr.
Program
Kevin Schindler, Emcee
Dr. Eileen Friel
Donna Courtney reading her Uncle’s poem
Tom & Jennifer Polakis
Burnham Memorial Project
Tony Ortega
Editor, Village Voice, Burnham
biographer
Norm & Bruce Thomas
Co-worker and friend
Dr. Nat White
Co-worker
Presentation of scholarship and Burnham’s Celestial
Handbooks to
Adjourn to a view of the new memorial
Special
Thanks and Acknowledgement to:
Lowell
Observatory,
especially Dr. Robert Millis, Director
Emeritus and Brian Skiff, Research Astronomer for acknowledging the amateur
astronomer side of Robert Burnham Jr. and taking the time from busy schedules
to help with the memorial.
Tony
Ortega
for bringing Burnham’s biography to light in his
Michael Gilmer for setting the Burnham Memorial Project in
motion on the Cloudy Nights amateur astronomy forum.
Joe Gabig at International Bronze Ltd. for patience with
the design ideas and changes.
Tom Gosch at Mountain Stone
Works in
Peter Argenziano and Xerox Corporation for donating time and
resources to print this program.
East Valley Astronomy Club, Gilbert AZ for
bookkeeping the donation account for 8 months longer than planned. Thanks Ray!!!
Jack Horkheimer for the huge first donation and Tony Ortega for matching it along
with all of those who made donations, including: East Valley Astronomy Club,
Sam Herchak, Saguaro Astronomy Club, Gary Deatsman, Huachuca Astronomy Club, Wayne Thomas, Edwin
Jones, The Polakis Family, Chris Herman, the Richardson Family, Michael
Collins, Bill Dellinges, All Arizona Star Party, Melany Biendara, Arthur Levine,
Michael Gilmer, Tom Allyn, Michael Sandras, Terri Lappin, James Bitgood, Philip Levine, Peter Hobbins,
Joe Goss, John Matthews, Peter Argenziano, Winston Pendelton, Alex & Dian Vrenios,
Richard Warburton, and Joan Thompson
Please continue your support by donating to
Friends of
And most of all, a special thanks to Viola Courtney for being a caring and
supportive little sister and to her daughter Donna Courtney for being a loving niece to our favorite
professional amateur astronomer, Robert
Burnham Jr.