If you were alive though you remember exactly where you were at the moment he stepped out onto the Lunar surface. Neil Armstrong with tens of thousands of workers supporting the effort took that giant leap and there can be only one first.

Neil was from Ohio and has retired to his home state with little fanfare.....a pretty private person. But there could be only one first and Neil was the man. Somehow when I heard this news a half hour ago I felt sort of empty. It was a a massive achievement and old Neil was just out there on the point, but there can be only one first.

There were some really wonderful missions to follow including the amazing story of Apollo 13. Men dug up rocks and drove around and even hit golf balls on the moon. Twelve men walked around on a heavenly body and excited us with exploits that we knew we would never make. The astronaut corps was made up of good people and supported by good people but when the goal was attained to walk upon the moon , it was Neil Armstrong......and there can be only one first.

Upon hearing the news my eyes immediately welled up with tears. I didn't know Neil or even think about him much as the years have passed. I look back through the years and find what a big deal the space program was to me and to many. Even as I railed against the war and my government and others called us peace-nik hippie freaks, we all came together on that July night in 1969 when Neil Armstrong spoke the words, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." We went back to our corners and continued the fight but we had gone to the moon and Neil was the first and there can be only one first.

More than a man, a piece of history died today. Thank you Neil. You were the first.


Spaw