July 20, 1969

I wasn't yet 15, younger than my younger son is now. But it remains one of my most vivid memories. People 40 years old - what some would call middle aged - likely don't remember it. It's ancient history to school kids today. As far removed from their memory as the Great Depression was from mine.

4:18 PM: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Why we went to the moon remains debatable. Some say it was Cold War politics. Others say it was the thrill of discovery. A few say it was for all the commercial spin-offs that would spur the economy. Crackpots and loonies say it never happened at all. But whatever the reason, man's first steps on another heavenly body occurred 35 years ago today.

10:56 PM: "That's one small step for a man. One giant leap for mankind."

At the time, my parent's bedroom contained a 19" Zenith portable TV. It sat on a rickety stand between the bed and the wall with just enough room for a 14-year-old boy to sit cross-legged directly in front of it. The picture was in black and white with rabbit ears that seemed to need constant adjustment. But that was OK. The images streaming back from the moon that night weren't in color and every channel on TV, all 3, were showing the same thing. Contrary to my mother's standing order, only the TV illuminated the bedroom that evening.

My father - for reasons still unimaginable and inexplicable - snored on the bed behind me. Granted it was almost 11 PM but men - US men, our men, human beings - were climbing down the few rungs of a ladder to set foot on the moon! History was happening right in front of us.

"Dad! Dad! Wake up! Look at this! We're on the moon!"

I think he eventually roused but it seemed he did so only out of some feeling of duty or obligation. Not out of curiosity. Not out of amazement. It was one of the few times he disappointed me. How could he not find this riveting?

The astronauts left a plaque on the moon. It was strapped to one of the Eagle's legs.

"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."

This picture of Buzz Aldrin is one of the most famous 20th Century photographs. It shows him - the second man on the moon - standing amid footprints etched in moon dust. Scientists tell us those footprints will remain unchanged for millions of years, far longer than anything man made here on Earth. Reflected in his visor are the image and shadow of his photographer, companion, and predecessor to the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong. Amazingly, this fuzzy reflection is the only photograph we have of the first man who stood on the moon standing on the moon.

Children today carry no memory that compares. Nowadays NASA endeavors seem to be of only secondary interest to both children and adults. Pictures from Mars? Pfft. Landing a satellite on an asteroid? Ho hum. The President promises we're going back. He tells us there are new priorities, plans in the making, a vision. But more earthly affairs intrude.

I hope he keeps his promise.
K-