As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. As he stepped on the dusty surface, Armstrong said: “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Those words endure as one of the best known quotes in the English language. [REUTERS]
IT WAS 1969, the end of a decade that ravaged American idealism.
For one brief shining moment, Neil Armstrong reminded us again of what had been, as we lived the Nixon era that made us learn the worst of what we could be.
Armstrong passed today. He will never be forgotten.
Pres. Obama released a statement, including the First Lady in it. Among the things he said was, “Neil’s spirit of discovery lives on in all the men and women who have devoted their lives to exploring the unknown – including those who are ensuring that we reach higher and go further in space. That legacy will endure – sparked by a man who taught us the enormous power of one small step.”
Mitt Romney’s statement included this trekky-esque turn of phrase, that “The moon will miss its first son of earth.”
photo: Shutterstock
Good for him, that he died; now he won’t have to see what’s to come.
I was so very proud to be an American the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. For one brief moment America’s creativity, ingenuity, boundless spirit and bravery really showed through. It had been an awful decade for me. I had lost 2 friends in Viet Nam and my 3 Heroes – JFK, MLK and RFK. Even now I find it painful to remember. But there was that one brief moment, that one brief ray of sunshine where we got a chance to say hurrah for us. RIP Neil..
Jane, well said. I concur with alll you so eloquently said here.
Neil Armstrong was a truly great man and it’s a huge loss. I felt the same about Sally Ride who died one month ago. Both were American icons and both were great representatives of the sciences and the space program. And, both were humble about their accomplishments.
I was a kid when we landed on the moon but I remember it vividly because I was staying with my Aunt’s family in the suberbs (my family lived in the city at the time) and it was the first time I saw a TV program in color so it was a double pleasure and memory point. I was at my aunt’s home for a week during my summer vacation and I also remember how excited I was to watch reruns of two of my fav programs at the time ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Lost In Space’. What a great week that was.
Now I’m a devotee of Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Astrophysicist, and Director of the Hayden Planetarium in NY. He is not only brilliant and a great advocate of our space program but his fantastic wit makes science less intimidating and understandable to a mass audience.
I’m going to post two links. One is of Tyson testifying before congress about the vital importance of a public space program. http://tinyurl.com/9wxejal
And, here is Tyson at his best when he talks about the history and future of NASA and the space program with great insight and humor as well. http://tinyurl.com/8l3qq9c
One of the things I love about this cspan talk of Tyson’s is how he resonates with kids as there are many kids in this audience and they were part of those that asked him questions. I just loved that.
I think both Armstrong and Ride would have loved that presentation.
Neil Armstrong, rest in peace, Mr. Space Man. I cannot resist playing this song from many years ago by Dadid Bowie, “Major Tom” as a tribute to Armstrong and Ride. http://tinyurl.com/8l3qq9c
You all probs figured it out by now, that last link is a dup of the second Tyson link.
Here is Bowie’s Major Tom. http://tinyurl.com/2c82cbb