"They will be mourned by a Mother Earth"
/
Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin's bootprint. Aldrin photographed this bootprint about an hour into their lunar extra-vehicular activity on July 20, 1969, as part of investigations into the soil mechanics of the lunar surface. This photo would later become synonymous with humankind's venture into space.
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of Buzz Aldrin’s and the late Neil Armstrong’s landing on the Moon I decided to post something a little unorthodox. Recently, a speech that President Richard Nixon had prepared if tragedy struck the Apollo 11 crew was declassified. The speech was a backup if the 2 men were to become stranded on the lunar surface with no hope of return.
"Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
"These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
"In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.
"Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
"For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind." Source: SPACE.com
Morbid, yes, but I find the sentiment beautiful. Above all, it helps to illiterate the true dangers involved and that a successful mission was never a guarantee. The crew of Apollo 11, and astronauts before them and many after, knew the risks and stripped in anyway. I think it is easy for our generation to blow this off as “been there, done that,” but just keep in mind kids, this complex mission relayed on an on-board computer less capable then the 1st generation iphone.
Scotty
