Article clipped from Florida Today

Apollo 09 Crew Gets Awards WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Spiro Agnew presented Wednesday NASA's top award, the Distinguished Service Medal, to the three Apollo 9 astronauts. The families of the astronauts, members of Congress and NASA employes were on hand for the ceremony at NASA. headquarters. They applauded the three, James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott and Russell L. Schweickart. "I am proud that America has forged to the forefront and established the leadership in space to match our leadership on earth." Agnew said. Agnew said the Apollo 9 astronauts performed an unusually difficult and complex 10-day flight. accomplished what they set out to do, and did it well. On behalf of the Apollo 9 team, McDivitt gave the vice president an American flag carried in orbit during the Apollo 9 flight March 3-13. Dr. Thomas 0. Paine, NASA a d administrator, presented the NASA A Exceptional Service Medal to two top officials of the manned spacecraft center at Houston, Carroll H. Bolender, lunar module manager in the Apollo spacecraft program office, and Eugene F. Kranz, Apollo 9 flight director. Paine also presented the NASA Public Service Award to Llewellyn J. Evans, president of Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp., Bethpage, N.Y. builders of the LEM. The astroanuts and their wives will dine with the President and Mrs. Nixon at the White House Thursday night. Presidential press secretary Ron L. Ziegler said he understood there would be no other guests.