“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”

– President John F. Kennedy

On Sunday, July 20th, 1969, the world watched on television sets as two astronauts – Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin – become the first to set foot on the surface of the Moon.  Armstrong climbed down from the lunar module (called the Eagle), saying, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” 

While on the Sea of Tranquility, Armstrong and Aldrin deployed a television camera, raised the American flag, collected samples, talked with President Richard M. Nixon, set up scientific equipment, and gave millions of listeners a description of their experiences.

 The mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s.

Happy Independence Day to all! And a special thank you to those men and women who serve and who have served this great nation of ours. God bless.