Crowd honors Giffords, watches shuttle

TUCSON, May 16 (UPI) -- A crowd gathered at a small Tucson restaurant to cheer the launch of the Shuttle Endeavour and support Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, they said.

The Trident Grill was often frequented by Giffords and her husband, shuttle Cmdr. Mark Kelly, KTVK-TV, Phoenix, reported Monday.

Community members started gathering at the restaurant around 5 a.m. to watch coverage of the launch taking place 2,000 miles away.

"We just wanted to come here to watch together," said one viewer. "Gabby has come so far and we're just so proud of her."

Giffords has been making progress since being shot in the head 17 weeks ago, and under doctors' care was able to travel to Florida to observe the launch, in privacy away from public view.

"It means a lot for Gabby to be there, to be a wife and support her husband," Jessica Schultz, Gifford's political director, said.