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Astrotwins: Mark and Scott Kelly
Mark and Scott Kelly are the world’s first (and so far only) identical-twin astronaut brothers. Hailing from West Orange, New Jersey, Mark and Scott served as space shuttle pilots and commanders for NASA, with Scott ultimately commanding the International Space Station during two long missions, including a nearly yearlong flight from March 2015 to March 2016. On May 19, 2016, Mark and Scott (Mark is 6 minutes older) returned to their West Orange hometown for the renaming of their childhood school from Pleasantdale Elementary to Kelly Elementary School in honor of their spaceflight feats. See photos from the astrotwin celebration here.
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Ready for the celebration
Phyllis Tolkowsky arrived at 8 a.m. on May 19, 2016, to watch Mark and Scott Kelly be honored during the renaming of Kelly Elementary School. She’s lived in West Orange, New Jersey, since 1960.
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Pleasantdale students gather
Students gathered to celebrate the renaming of their elementary school in West Orange, NJ to Kelly Elementary
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Meet the Kellys
Mark and Scott Kelly stood on the steps of the (soon-to-be-former) Pleasantdale school for the renaming.
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The Students of Kelly Elementary
Grade-school students formed much of the audience at Kelly Elementary School’s naming on May 19, 2016.
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Mark and Scott wait
The Kelly brothers at the naming of Kelly Elementary in West Orange, NJ.
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Kellys outside
Mark (left) and Scott Kelly sat outside at the school named in their honor.
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The New Plaque
Mark and Scott Kelly peeked under the cloth covering the plaque in their honor at Kelly Elementary School right when they came out in front of the school, but they had to wait to fully reveal it until near the end of the ceremony.
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Unveiling the Sign
Students of Kelly Elementary posed as the Kelly twins unveiled the new school sign.
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A ribbon cutting
Mark and Scott Kelly cut the ribbon on the new Kelly Elementary.
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Ceremonial approach
The Kelly twins approached West Orange, NJ town hall, heralded by bagpipes, for a special afternoon ceremony.
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Town hall celebration
West Orange, NJ police stood alert at a town hall ceremony for astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly.
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Mayoral medals
Mark and Scott Kelly with their new mayoral medals at town hall.
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Pledge of Allegience
Scott Kelly, Mark Kelly, Mark’s wife and former Arizona congresswoman Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the Kellys’ father (left to right) said the Pledge of Allegiance at West Orange town hall.
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Mark Signing Autographs
Mark and Scott Kelly humored a long line of autograph seekers after their West Orange town hall event on May 19, 2016.
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Yet More Autographs
Mark Kelly autographed a photo of the two astronauts on May 19, 2016, in an event at West Orange’s city hall.
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