The United States of America lost a hero and favored son this past weekend. Neil Alden Armstrong was the first man (out of 12 total) to ever walk on the Moon. If you are above the age of 12 years old and did not know that fact then you really need to brush up on humanities greatest achievements.
The passing of Mr. Armstrong deeply upset me. Like many children growing up in America in the last quarter of the twentieth century I dreamed of traveling in Outer Space. I was fascinated by the idea of exploring the "final frontier" and hearing the liftoff sequence of "10...9...8..." Although I was born nearly twenty years after his legendary moonwalk, I still held the utmost pride to be a part of the first nation to reach the lunar summit.
You would think Mr. Armstrong would have been a gloating celebrity rubbing elbows in the swankiest clubs from New York to Vegas to LA but he was the most humble man to ever walk on this Earth.
He always down played his accomplishments and believed the 100,000 of people that worked on the Apollo missions were just as much heroic as he was. This probably boggles your mind, how could someone with such accomplishment and talent NOT capitalize on this? Well back when America was feared and respected Americans chose character over celebrity. They were people who did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, not because someone was watching. Americans were far from narcissistic and were far from the Kim Kardashian types (they accomplished actual meaningful feats!)
Many think that the values Mr. Armstrong grew up on and portrayed over his 82 years are gone from our lovely land, I strongly disagree. They are alive in the father working two jobs to ensure his children can attend college. These values are alive in the American youth who are tinkering on their computers new ways to solve problems. We must all remember, if we want these values to return as common place in our society, it starts with you. All movements to create a better tomorrow starts with ONE person, lead by example.
On the subject of the state of NASA now, Mr. Armstrong put it best, "When we lost the competition, we lost the public will to continue." I don't mean to get political but, we need to get our nation's financial house in order so that one day we can return to the place Mr. Armstrong famously touched down and go beyond it. Don't you think we owe it to Mr. Armstrong to further explore the depths of space? Don't you think we owe it to Mr. Armstrong to compete and find a way to ensure when Man lands on the next frontier he is carrying the Stars and Stripes?
Mr. Armstrong, you will forever be a hero to countless citizens....of Earth.
