NEIL ARMSTRONG FIRST MAN ON THE MOON DEAD AT 82

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

With these now famous words Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon and forever be remembered as a hero a legend and one of the most important people of the Twentieth Century.

It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of this humble American hero. Neil Armstrong lived a life that brought pride, exceptionalism and tremendous accomplishment both for him and our country that he served as an officer in the Navy, a test pilot and as an Astronaut who flew missions on Gemini 8, the backup crew of Gemini 11 and of course Commander of Apollo 11 and the first man to walk on the moon.

Armstrong was born August 5, 1930 and was 82 at his passing Saturday.  As an Astronaut and the first man to walk on the moon Armstrong will forever be remembered for the heroic and extremely dangerous mission of Apollo 11 and the moon landing that forever placed his name in history among the greatest of Americans when he walked on the moon July 20, 1969.

For a few brief hours this brave man and the crew of Apollo 11 which included Buzz Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot and Michael Collins Command Module Pilot held the entire world in awe as man ventured for the first time on the soil of an alien body. It was reported on this historic day in 1969 that during the hours of the landing on the moon of the Eagle at Tranquility base until the moments when first Armstrong then Aldrin stepped on the surface of the moon, the entire world stopped to watch this amazing American accomplishment for all mankind and during those hours no crime was reported taking place throughout the world.

I was 13 years old on that glorious day in 1969 when Armstrong spoke those now famous words and watched in absolute amazement as he stepped on the ladder of the Lunar Module making his way down the steps to leap the final step making the first boot print of a man on the moon. To this day I can still remember the excitement and awe I felt as a young teenager watching this greatest scientific accomplishment of man and of my country take place live on television before an audience of millions around the world.




Neil Armstrong, American hero, American legend we will always remember you and never forget what you did for our Nation and all mankind in selfless service to our country and those glorious days when you represented our nation and all mankind on the surface of the moon.  Rest in peace and may God bless the memory of Neil Armstrong.

Ken Taylor