New statues of astronaut Neil Armstrong were unveiled and an education centre was dedicated in his name on Sunday as his home town of Ohio in the U.S. continued celebrating the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year anniversary.
At the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, a bronze life-size statue of Armstrong as a test pilot was inaugurated. Another statue of him outside the museum as a boy sitting on a bench while holding a model airplane was also unveiled.
There was also a ribbon-cutting to dedicate the Armstrong STEM Inspiration Centre at the museum. That centre is intended to promote science, technology, engineering and math learning.
The governor told those gathered at the museum that they were there to honor a courageous Ohioan “who inspired us 50 years ago and a man who continues to really inspire us today.”
DeWine said the events were not only about honoring the past, but also about looking to the future.
One of Armstrong’s sons, Mark Armstrong, talked of the importance of inspiring young people.
“You’re just looking to make one connection with someone, a little boy or a little girl that starts to dream, and those dreams carry them throughout their entire lives.”
Armstrong stepped on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969.
It took 4,00,000 people to put Apollo 11 on the moon a half-century ago.
Massive workforce
That massive workforce stretched across the U.S. and included engineers, scientists, mechanics, technicians, pilots, divers, seamstresses, secretaries and more who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to achieve those first lunar footsteps.
One of them was JoAnn Morgan, the first female launch controller. Navy frogman Clancy Hatleberg was another. He was the first to welcome the moonmen back to Earth after their capsule splashed down in the Pacific. They are expected to join other Apollo 11 workers at festivities this week.
Looking back, Mr. Hatleberg is still in awe at what the Apollo astronauts accomplished. “They were the ones who risked their lives to take that giant leap for all mankind. They’re the heroes and they always will be in my heart.”