Private Memorial Service for Neil Armstrong
Media Advisory: Neil Armstrong Private Memorial Service Information
THIS SERVICE IS CLOSED TO THE MEDIA–WITH NO EXCEPTIONS
“To everyone who has so graciously remembered Neil Armstrong: The outpouring of condolences and kind wishes from around the world overwhelms us and we appreciate it more than words can express.”
Plans are underway to conduct a national service in Washington in the next two weeks.
This just makes me mad.
I didn’t say a word in the past few days as folks here and elsewhere waxed greatly on Mr. Armstrong. But dammit! I just have a sense that he owed us a little more of himself, that’s all. A bit more forceful speaking out. He could have been a real leader and could have made a real difference.
And, yea, ‘owe’ is the right word. Truthfully there were several more astronauts equally capable and trained to do what he did. Everyone here knows that any of them could have stepped into his shoes. So at least in that small respect, he was a damn lucky guy. Skilled? Sure. Trained? Yea. Brave? Absolutely. But…
Responsible, successful people often learn the rightness of ‘paying back’ your good fortune. Teaching a few years doesn’t count. Inspiring people and, just maybe, congress critters would have counted a lot. Sign a few autographs at least.
He didn’t and it leaves, at least in the mouth of this space-loving, non-technical American, a very sour taste.
I’ve written more on my own little website, mostly cathartic I suppose. I love space, I love science, I love NASA, I love/ loved Neil Armstrong in so many ways, and I suppose that’s what made his failure to lead so hard to watch.
Argh.
I’ll never understand the point of view that somehow Armstrong “owed” more to America after successfully completing the first lunar landing. He did his job well, but he never sought out the spotlight. After Apollo 11, he moved on to teaching (University of Cincinnati), sitting on the boards of several companies, and participating in both the Apollo 13 and Challenger accident investigation boards. When his country needed his skills as an engineer, test pilot, and astronaut he was there.
His skills did NOT include politics or even public speaking. Damning him for not attempting something he wasn’t interested in or necessarily even good at seems quite unfair.
Jeff,
I get your point, and partly agree with it…I admit to a certain amount of angst when I complain about Mr. Armstrong. But damn it! The person in that position could have done so much. Perhaps my disappointment should be directed to the process that selected him– a process that should have included a bit more criteria (assuming, as I do, that there were plenty of ready and able astronauts eager for the job).
Thanks for your view.
Nice photos of the memorial on the NASA site: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/…