▁sh utt le ▁was ▁returned ▁to ▁OP F - 2 ▁vac ated ▁by ▁Space ▁Sh utt le ▁Disc overy ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁July ▁where ▁techn icians ▁processed ▁Atl ant is ▁in ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁the ▁sh utt le ' s ▁ret irement ▁as ▁a ▁museum ▁exhib it ▁in ▁the ▁Kennedy ▁Space ▁Center ▁Vis itor ▁Complex . ▁ ▁Welcome ▁cer emon ies ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁NASA ▁hosted ▁an ▁employee ▁appreci ation ▁event ▁outside ▁OP F - 2 , ▁with ▁Atl ant is '' ▁park ed . ▁Ch ery l ▁Hur st , ▁the ▁director ▁of ▁education ▁and ▁external ▁relations ▁at ▁K SC , ▁spoke ▁first ▁and ▁invited ▁Susan ▁Lam bert ▁to ▁lead ▁the ▁crowd ▁with ▁the ▁American ▁national ▁anth em . ▁A ▁p ledge ▁of ▁alleg iance ▁followed ▁from ▁K SC ▁children , ▁and ▁NASA ▁Administr ator ▁Charles ▁B old en ▁and ▁K SC ▁Director ▁Robert ▁Cab ana ▁spoke ▁to ▁the ▁sh utt le ▁program ▁employees . ▁During ▁the ▁event , ▁R ita ▁Wil co x son ▁and ▁Pat ric ia ▁Str at ton ▁were ▁presented ▁with ▁highest ▁NASA ▁hon ors : ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Medal ▁and ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Public ▁Service ▁Medal ▁respectively . ▁The ▁cit ations ▁on ▁both ▁were ▁identical , ▁stating ▁" for ▁continuous ▁out standing ▁leadership ▁contributions ▁provided ▁to ▁the ▁nation ' s ▁space ▁sh utt le ▁program ". ▁A ▁public ▁" wel come ▁home " ▁ceremony ▁was ▁held ▁for ▁the ▁crew ▁at ▁Houston ' s ▁Ell