By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After traveling 5.3 million miles and circling the earth 200 times, Norman Kaye's medal is home.

NASA astronaut James Reilly, who took Kaye's Navy medal aboard space shuttle Atlantis in 2001, delivered it to Kaye's widow, Jackie on Monday.

The Meritorious Public Service Award is the highest honor the Navy gives a civilian. It was given to Norman Kaye in 2000 (Jackie got one in 1999) for their years of caring for Navy sailors.

"When you figure that it's part of 35 years of our life, and we have literally adopted tens of thousands of Navy people," said Jackie Kaye, 72. "That medal represents their thank you and love back to us."

When Norman Kaye died six months after he received the medal, Jackie asked Reilly to carry it to space.

Reilly was in Burlington Monday, where he presented Kaye with the medal and a certificate signed by the flight crew.

Reilly, 49, became friends with the Kayes about seven years ago when their paths crossed on a trip to Turkey as part to Fort Lauderdale's sister city program.

"Jim was always like a very special adopted son," Kaye said.

They also helped Reilly fulfill a lifelong dream of being in the Navy. Norman Kaye called an admiral, and "a few months later I got my commission in the Naval Reserves," Reilly said.

The Kayes' "adoption" of sailors began in 1984 at their home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when they took care of the crew of the USS Boston. They began providing a home away from home for the young people who came into port in Florida. The Kayes entertained, fed and became "Mom and Pop" to the sailors.

Fourteen of their Navy "children" grew up to be admirals.

Their work became legend in the Navy, earning them honors from four U.S. presidents.

After Norman died, Jackie Kaye, who grew up in Northern Kentucky, moved to Burlington to be closer to her five sisters.

So far this year, she's sent 4,000 Christmas gifts to Navy sailors. And has 600 more ready to go.

Along for the ride

Other items that have been taken into space:

• Coins, stamps, mission patches.

• Astronaut Al Shepard carried golf balls.

• John Young took a corned beef sandwich on Gemini 3.

• 1971 Stuart Roosa took tree seeds on Apollo 14.

• The Smithsonian Institution requested that for one mission a piece of fabric from the original 1903 Wright Flyer be flown.

• Commander Eileen Collins brought with her on STS-63 the pilot's license that had been granted in France to American female pilot Bobbi Trout.

Source: NASA

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E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com