Happy 50th Anniversary to our Moon Memories July 20th, 1969. That was the day that Americans were glued to our televisions and radios because space history was made. And I thought that I was there.
The U.S.’ Apollo 11, launched by NASA, landed a lunar module on the surface of the moon, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Cernan aboard. Mike Collins remained on the command module.
At my house, my mother, grandmother and I had an old black-and-white tv, and fans in the windows, in an attempt to feel a slight breeze. So either I ‘invited’ myself next door to the Ford’s house, or one of the kids invited me over. After all, Dale and Frances’ dad worked at Red River Army Depot. They had (gasp!) a new color television, plus air conditioning. I was grateful for both that evening.
We (several members of the Ford family, neighborhood kids like me) sat in the floor, very quietly, inapt wonderment. Here were these fuzzy, black and white images of Armstrong and Cernan, planting the American Flag upon the moon’s surface…and Neil Armstrong uttering those famous words: “That’s one small step for man…one giant leap, for mankind.” The moment was powerful; stunning.
The ‘of a certain age’ crowd, have similar experiences. Many reading this weren’t even born yet. So Texarkana Museum Systems will host a Moon Landing Watch Party on Saturday, July 27, at 6 pm at the P.J. Ahern Home, on Laurel Street, where you may see what it was all about; what parents and grandparents really MEAN when they describe watching Walter Cronkite, or Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, reporting this history being made. TMS members pay $15 and $20 for non-members.
Do you remember where you were, during the Moon Shot? Well, then, please post your memories here. If not, we invite you to go to the Moon Landing Watch Party on July 27th and check in with us then. Be sure to register early as space is limited, more details.
(P.S: if you believe that the moon shot’s a fake and wrestling is real? That’s a blog for another time.)