 Why doesn't Martha want the general to bring Terry home?
"Is Terry really way up there all alone, Martha?" "Aren't you scared , Martha?" What could she say when the suave young man came up to her and said, "We want you to know that we're all very proud of your boy up there, ma'am, and we hope you'll do us the honor of answering a few questions." A few of the questions concerned herself: Was Terry her only child? What did she think of the new law granting star mothers top priority on any and all information relating to their sons? It was late in the afternoon by the time the TV crew got everything repacked into their cars and trucks and made their departure. Martha fixed herself a light supper, then donned an old suede jacket of Terry's and went out into the garden to wait for the sun to go down. According to the time table the general had outlined in his first telegram, Terry's first Tuesday night passage wasn't due to occur till 9:05.
 Martha feels Terry would want to spend eternity amongst the stars.
 Martha does not want to be blamed for spending taxpayers' money on an expensive search and rescue operation.  Martha feels Terry would want to spend eternity amongst the stars.  Martha does not want the media circus to continue.  Martha knows the same kind of accident or worse could happen to the search and rescue team.