Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-029-003
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Alan Shepard in the White House Rose Garden. In his remarks President Kennedy congratulates Commander Shepard on his successful completion of the Mercury-Redstone 3 test flight (also known as the Freedom 7), during which Shepard became the first American to make a suborbital flight in space. The President also discusses the national and international significance of the flight. The recording includes remarks from Commander Shepard.