The moon hangs above us. Nightly taunting us with it’s silvery glow, seemingly close enough to touch. Yet it is a very dangerous, complicated and gruelling journey to get there. And to return alive. Many men answered this country’s call to go to the moon. A very select few had the right stuff to be chosen for the task. A much smaller group would actually set foot on the surface of the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first of these brave Americans. Venturing into the unknown for the thrill of exploration and the national pride of accomplishing a daunting technological feat that many believed was impossible. It was an amazing act that brought the entire country together and showed the world the power of American “can do anything you set your mind to” ingenuity.
Though for many Americans today, this story is ancient history. Nearly a legend that some soft minded people even believe was faked by Hollywood. The next time you look up at the night sky and see the glow of the moon taunting our once proud country, ask yourself, sadly: Why has no one been to the moon in my lifetime?
Has exploration and pushing the boundaries of our known capabilities become passe as style and comfort become our top priorities? Many years from now will our country be remembered more for the entertainment it produced or the grit and guts it once had to accomplish the impossible?
The biological life of Neil Armstrong has passed. Yet his footprints and their impact on the human legacy remain. Will the same be said of any of us when we’re gone?
“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when I know there are footprints on the moon.” Paul Brandt
SiliconCali.com