R.I.P Neil Armstrong

[Sparky93]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/217829_10151044064718915_1065921629_n.jpg

A couple of days ago Neil Armstrong, Navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and Purdue University alumni died from complications during a heart surgery. Students here have been placing flowers lighting candles at night around his statue in front of the Armstrong building.

[Cast-Iron]

RIP Commander Armstrong.

Here is my favorite Neil Armstrong story. Fact or fiction, I still get a chuckle whenever I read it:

On July 20, 1969, commander of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. His first words after stepping on the moon, "That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind", were televised to Earth and heard by millions. But just before he re-entered the lander, he made the enigmatic remark:

"Good luck, Mr. Gorsky." Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet Cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs. Over the years many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good luck Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled. On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26 year old question to Armstrong. This time he finally responded. Mr. Gorsky had died and so Neil Armstrong felt he could answer the question.

In 1938 when he was a kid in a small Midwest town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit a fly ball, which landed in his neighbor’s yard by the bedroom windows. His neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky.

As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky. "Sex! You want sex?! You’ll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"

[natertot]

Rest peacefully, sir.

I have heard that story as well CI! I don't know of its' truth either, but Armstrong no doubt did have a sense of humor!

[Rick]

I completely missed this. Thanks for posting it. What an incredible life! A quiet American hero.

[kyratshooter]

Armstrong was a Professor of Airospace at the University of Cincinnati and a much respected teacher. He was held in great esteem not only for his career as an astronaught, but also as a gifted and professional educator.

His colleges said that he did not often talk about the work in space, but if you asked him anything about a Century Series fighter he would talk for hours. His first calling was as a pilot.

One of my pivotal memories was a warm summer night in 1969 when I sat on a sofa with a little old lady about 85 years old and watched Armstrong walk on the moon. The little lady made the coment that she had also seen the Wright brothers biplane fly in exhibition. She was a grown woman when that first powered plane flew, and in less than a lifetime she was seeing men walk on the moon. She still could not understand how any of those contraptions could stay up in the air!

[hunter63]

Still one of my hero's....RIP Neil Armstrong.

[BornthatWay]

Yes, I remember him walking on the moon as I was watching TV with my grandmother. She had a friend who was a crusty ole lady who lived on a farm with her brother and her comment was: "Why didn't they take all that money and use it put the fire out in hell." To this day I laugh whenever I think about Neil Armstrong and his walk on the moon.

[Sparky93]

I thought this was a good picture, someone posted it to facebook and said they took the picture the night Neil died.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547292_10151066536726225_1684821243_n.jpg

"I do not know the identity of the soldier in the photo, but he stood still saluting and paying his respects to Armstrong for at least 20 minutes (I'm not sure how long he was there before I arrived)."

[Sparky93]

Some pictures from the memorial service.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551860_10151046393878915_1368937517_n.jpg

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http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553703_10151046382053915_1934944809_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546144_10151046393153915_1326262715_n.jpg