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JRHS students posed with Homer Hickam (top right) in the green jacket on the steps of the Methodist Church

The Rocket Boys summer reading project stretched into fall and twenty one students along with a group of teachers, parents and Principal Jamie Talbott, left the school at 4:45 a.m. and arrived in a cold Coalwood, West Virginia on October 4 for the October Sky Festival. They arrived in time to meet with Rocket Boys author Homer Hickam and other rocket boys including O'Dell , Roy Lee and Billy. Space Shuttle Astronaut Dr. Tom Jones signed photos.

Hickam mentioned that one student -- Zack Ewen and his critical review of the Rocket Boys (originally mentioned here on The Botetourt View) -- led to the school coming that day. Virginia Tech had a booth and gave away t-shirts. he had a private time with the James River group and a poster welcomed them along the street. Hickam spoke of his writing, the book and his career at NASA.

Hickam and the other rocket boys signed copies of the the Rocket Boys book as well as the many others Hickam has penned. He has a series of books featuring character Josh Thurlow and a new book called The Red Helmet

The students visited the sites mentioned in Rocket Boys. They went to the launch site, the Methodist church, watched a parade, jumped in a moonwalk and participated in other activities while at Coalwood. They arrived home about dark on Saturday. It was a long, but fun day, said Dylan Coleman.

Photos courtesy of George Ewen

We have a photo gallery from the trip. Do you have photos? Feel free to share at news@botetourtview.com

OTHER RECENT JAMES RIVER COVERAGE:

* Oct. 4: James River falls to Wilson Memorial in football
* Oct. 3: James River football JVs lose a heartbreaker
* Oct. 2: James River readers head to October Sky festival on Saturday
* Oct. 1: James River volleyball JVs win again
* Sept. 26: James River wins at Glenvar
* Sept. 26: James River volleyball JVs fall to Covington
* Sept. 25: James River FCCLA collecting for Botetourt Resource Center
* Sept. 25: Photos of James River cross-country team
* Sept 19: James River chicken bbq is October 11
* Photos of all the fall sports teams at James River.