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Committee advances student‑led resolution to name Bethlehem peak after Alan Shepard
Summary
A bipartisan committee endorsed HR 22 after an eighth‑grade presentation urging a mountain in Bethlehem be named for astronaut Alan Shepard; the resolution passed the committee 15–0 and will go to the full House.
Students from Barrington Middle School asked lawmakers to name a 3,814‑foot peak in Bethlehem for astronaut Alan Shepard, and their presentation helped carry the committee to a unanimous recommendation. Representative Lehi Turcotte, the bill’s prime sponsor, brought the eighth‑grade civics project to the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, and two student representatives, Shelby Hilfiger and Danielle Bouchard, summarized Shepard’s life and argued local memorialization would keep his legacy present for future students.
"New Hampshire has a long and proud tradition of honoring our native sons and daughters," Shelby Hilfiger told the committee, reciting the students’ reasons for supporting HR 22. The students described Shepard’s service as a Navy pilot, his selection as one of the original Mercury astronauts, his Freedom 7 suborbital flight in May 1961 and his return to the Moon on Apollo 14 in 1971.
Representative Turcotte said the project began with an eighth‑grade social studies teacher and that the students ran the project themselves, including a practice hearing. He also distributed documentation of existing places named for Shepard and reported that the astronaut’s daughter, Laura Churchley, had written that the family is “thrilled and thankful for this honor.” Representative Steve Pearson of Derry said that while Shepard had resisted being memorialized in life, he would not object if Shepard’s daughters supported the proposal.
Representative Ryan moved the committee recommend HR 22 (OTP); Representative DuPont seconded. The clerk called the roll and the committee voted 15–0 in favor. The chair said the resolution will now proceed to the House calendar for further consideration.
The committee record includes student testimony and family correspondence submitted by the sponsor; the resolution is nonbinding ceremonial legislation and does not change state law or land ownership. The committee placed HR 22 on consent for the next steps to the House.
