The BlogNeil ArmstrongscienceVideo

'One Small Step': Remembering Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong represented all that was the ideal in our time. I'll never forget watching those grainy images that night, as Armstrong jumped off the ladder of the lander onto the surface of the moon.
Open Image Modal
By 

Energy Veteran and Author, Founder, this-small-planet.com

Energy Veteran and Author, Founder, this-small-planet.com
|
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Open Image Modal
FILE - In this July 20, 1969 file photo provided by NASA shows Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, the first men to land on the moon, plant the U.S. flag on the lunar surface. The family of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, says he has died at age 82. A statement from the family says he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. It doesn't say where he died. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969. He radioed back to Earth the historic news of "one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. In all, 12 Americans walked on the moon from 1969 to 1972. (AP Photo/NASA)

Today, one of my heroes, Neil Armstrong, died at age 82.  He was the first man to walk on the moon, stepping out of his lunar lander at  2:56 UTC on July 21, 1969.  As a 16 year-old, and son of an Air Force pilot, I was infatuated with everything that flew - airplanes, rockets, helicopters, gliders.  Having grown up watching the space race, and like most kids my age, I wanted to be an astronaut.  I'll never forget watching those grainy images that night, as Armstrong jumped off the ladder of the lander onto the surface of the moon.  Have a look:

Armstrong represented all that was the ideal in our time... patriotic, smart, capable, upstanding, courageous, true.  Well, at least we thought he was true; who knew if he really was.  But, it really didn't matter, did it?  Astronauts like Armstrong embodied the image of American infallibility, invincibility, strength, and knowledge, defining our essence as a society.  All the astronauts hold a special place in American history, but there are only a few firsts; Alan Shepard, first American in space, John Glenn, first American to orbit the earth, Sally Ride, first American woman in space, and Neil Armstrong, first human to set foot on the moon.

He was a great American, an example to us all.  I, for one, will not forget him.

 

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip