Dear Elders, Do you remember where you were when astronauts made the first moon landing? What were your thoughts on it then?
Signed,
– Standing on the Moon
Jan Stickler
Dear Standing on the Moon,
I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast! Unfortunately, where I was at that moment escapes me. I do know I had just moved to New Hampshire that summer and was busy house hunting with five small children, 6 years and under, in tow. Maybe, that’s why I can’t remember. I do remember Neil Armstrong’s impressive statement, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” A great summation! I felt pretty much the same way. It was an era when great things seemed to be within reach.
Steve Leavenworth
Dear Moonie,
I sure do remember. We stayed up and kept the kids up, too. I think it was one of the most exciting and also satisfying moments in my life. I was pleased that we had won the race to the moon and was fascinated to see a man actually walk on the moon. I immediately thought, where next?
Bill Twibill
Dear Fly Me To The Moon,
I sure do. July 1969, I was visiting San Francisco and dancing the night away, along with enjoying a few drinks – I was only 30 then – when the TV went on for all to watch. Do some of you remember “The Honeymooners” with Alice and Ralph Kramden? Jackie Gleason always threatening poor Alice with his fist, “A trip to the moon, Alice, would you like a trip to the moon?” Well, we all thought he succeeded. Alice finally made it to the moon. Only kidding, readers, only kidding. All the amazing honors and glory go to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Please go to YouTube and relive the moment. The Eagle has landed, “One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.” What a wonderful and glorious moment for the U.S.A. Alice will have to wait.
Casper Kranenburg
Dear Standing,
Yes, I remember it well. At that time I was a student at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and around noon (we were barely awake), one of my friends called us all to his small TV set to see the live broadcast of the moon landing. Being who we were, our attention span was short, our tongues were dry and not one of us realized until much later what historic event we actually had seen. So, my thoughts on it 40 years ago were quite indifferent, unlike now.
Roioli Schweiker
Dear Standing on the Moon,
When the astronauts made the first moon landing, we were on a wilderness canoe camping trip in Canada with friends. At the time, I was thinking more about how to fix all the blueberries and fish we had available.
Of course we saw and heard all about when we returned home. We had been science fiction fans for years. We were home, sitting around the TV for the next one, but that is when
the cameras failed.
