Neil Armstrong has died

[Duncan MacLeod]

Neil Armstrong was, and still is, one of my heroes. I watched those staticy images live as he jumped down onto the lunar surface late at night on the 20th of July, 1969. I wasn't yet 10 years old.

For the folks of my parents generation the question is "Where were you when the announcement came on the attack at Pearl Harbour?" For the next generation it was JFK's assasination. For the modern generation the defining moment was 9/11.

But for my generation it was "Did you see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon?" I answer proudly, "Yes, I did."

Thank you, Mr. Armstrong. You will always be missed, and never forgotten.

Rest in Peace.

 

[MacLeod]

The moon landings were before my time, but they marked a key moment in history. It's just a shame that we have yet to take the second step.

 

[Chris3123]

I was shocked when I heard it. He was a true hero and pioneer.

RIP, Mr. Armstrong.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Circle of life and all ... Neil Armstrong was a true pioneer. We should all be so fortunate to be a such a significant part of advancing the human civilization.

RIP

 

[gturner]

P00

 

[Paper Moon]

Neil Armstrong, may you rest in peace far beyond all those distant stars. Godspeed.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

We can take comfort from one thing: Neil Armstrong's name will probably be remembered down through the ages long after every other name from our civilization has been forgotten. Only one person can ever be the first human to set foot on a world other than Earth, and he was the one.

I was just thinking something along those lines. If any people from the twentieth century are remembered by name thousands of years from now, Neil Armstrong will surely be one of them.

 

[J.T.B.]

Staggering news to me. I was born between Apollo 12 and Apollo 13, so my firsthand memories of the program are minimal. But the fact that humans had gone to the moon was a pervasive in my childhood, my earliest books and TV recollections and so on. What a time in human history! And what a pilot! The guy actually took manual control and flew the lunar module till he found a spot where he was confident to land. It boggles my mind, really, what that must have been like.

Even though he consistently avoided the spotlight, it was nice just to know that Mr. Armstrong was still around. But as was said of Abraham Lincoln: Now he belongs to the ages.

 

[Australis]

Just saw this.

I remember getting up really early (local time) to watch one small step for man with my Dad. A moment forever in my memory.

Not just a great American, a great member of mankind.

 

[Holdfast]

For the folks of my parents generation the question is "Where were you when the announcement came on the attack at Pearl Harbour?" For the next generation it was JFK's assasination. For the modern generation the defining moment was 9/11.

But for my generation it was "Did you see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon?" I answer proudly, "Yes, I did."

For mine, sadly, it was Challenger. It's good that you got a nice one for your flashbulb memory.

RIP Mr Armstrong.

 

[Emher]

I'm still sort of shock by these news. Even though it is by nature that people die (hell, my grandfather died at the age of 88 a month ago), it still feels odd that Neil Armstrong is dead. I do hope that he has a good time in that next life. In mine he and many others in the space program has meant the world to me.

Rest in peace, Mr. Armstrong.

 

[Brolan]

Staggering news to me. I was born between Apollo 12 and Apollo 13, so my firsthand memories of the program are minimal. But the fact that humans had gone to the moon was a pervasive in my childhood, my earliest books and TV recollections and so on. What a time in human history! And what a pilot! The guy actually took manual control and flew the lunar module till he found a spot where he was confident to land. It boggles my mind, really, what that must have been like.

....

And he landed with only 30 seconds of fuel left. That's why you hear on the tape from Mission Control "You've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot."

 

[JiNX-01]

I am sitting actually sitting here crying. I am just so very sad about this. We hope our heroes will live forever ...

Neil, you will never be forgotten.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

“That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Brilliant and immortal words.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/one-small-step-for-man-or-a-man-armstrong-said-his-famous-words-from-the-moon-were-misquoted/2012/08/25/b43c08b8-ef03-11e1-b624-99dee49d8d67_story.html

He really did go where no man has gone before.

Rest in peace, sir.

 

[Ln X]

I am sitting actually sitting here crying. I am just so very sad about this. We hope our heroes will live forever ...

Neil, you will never be forgotten.

Don't worry, his place in human history is assured no matter how far we advance or whatever greater accomplishments we may achieve in the future, for he will always be the first person to set foot on a terrestrial body other than Earth.

That will be one milestone never forgotten.

RIP Neil Armstrong.

 

[bbailey861]

I am very, very sad - I also watched this man walk on the moon in '69. For one small moment, the entire world stopped the insanity and watched this man try to make the leap for mankind. RIP.

 

[Candlelight]

From Mr. Armstrong's family:

"For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.

Will do.

RIP Mr Armstrong.

 

[Finn]

I'm saddened by the news. He was a legend.

I envision a statue somewhere on the moon or that little town in Ohio he came from (If there isn't one already). Just don't go back to July 15th, 1969 and tell him about the statue...

 

[Trekker4747]

I just wish he could have made it to the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo XI, it would have been something special. If only because of "Fifty" being one of those numbers/anniversaries that are notable.

But, it was not to be. The man was just someone to look up to and admire. He's one "celebrity" death who can really impact the human nature in spirit in each and every one of us, whether you were alive to see Apollo land that night or not. It's just one of those human connections to exploration, wonder and awe that we all share. Neil was the first man on the moon. And I mean MAN, not American. Or even in the masculine. The first human being on the Moon. That is really something and just a sign of accomplishment of human spirit.

I'm going to need to watch the Apollo XI episode of "Earth to the Moon" sometime in the next couple nights.

Inspiration. In eighth grade it was an assignment in American History to write a report about a personal hero and I selected Armstrong as a hero. And not because he saved lives, or invented a cure for some terrible disease, and even given the dangers of space travel he didn't "really" risk his life for something. (Not in the way soldiers or many civic workers do)

But he just did something we all want to do and want man has wanted to do sense its dawn.

Rest In Peace, Neil.

 

[Procutus]

Neil's been a hero of mine for most of my life.

Exactly the same feeling here. I was nine years old when I watched him and Buzz make history on the surface while Mike Collins waited for them to return. They were pioneers in every sense of the word.