The suborbital flight lifted off from Cape Canaveral and splashed down 15 minutes later, 302 statute miles down the Atlantic Missile Range.

Shepard's mission made him a national hero and put to rest any fears that the United States would be left behind in the space race. This embroidered patch commemorates the career of a man of remarkable ability and courage.

Alan B. Shepard Jr., a Navy Commander was selected as part of the first group of American Astronauts which became known as the Mercury 7.

Shepard, a native of East Derry, New Hampshire, was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 and the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1958.

He attended the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland in 1950 and subsequently served two tours in flight test work there.

During his first tour, he took part in high altitude tests, and experiments in test and development of the Navy's in-flight refueling system, carrier stability trials of the F2H3 Banshee, and Navy trials of the first angled carrier deck.

During his second tour at Patuxent, he was engaged in testing the F3H Demon, F8U Crusader, F4D Skyray, and F11F Tigercat. He also served as a project test pilot on the F5D Skylancer.

Shepard was chosen with the first group of astronauts in 1959. In addition to serving as pilot of Mercury-Redstone 3 he was backup pilot for Mercury-Atlas 9.

He was subsequently grounded due to an inner ear aliment. He was assign as chief of the Astronaut Office and work with Deke Slayton on the selection of flight crews.

After a dangerous surgery to correct his inner ear problem Shepard returned to flight status. In February, 1971 he commanded Apollo 14 and became the fifth man to walk on the moon at the age of 47.

In June 1971 he resumed duties as chief of the Astronaut Office. He retired from NASA and the Navy on August 1, 1974.

Shepard died in 1998 after battling leukemia, at age 74. He will be remembered for his steely determination and casual humor.

His famous comment to Mercury control, "Why don't you fix your little problem and light this candle?" has become a part of the American lexicon.