"WHAT A VISION THAT WAS"

COLOR THE MOON RED, WHITE & BLUE: 'THE EAGLE HAS LANDED'

Tranquility Base, The Moon (JFK+50) At 4:17 p.m. EST on July 20, 1969, Apollo 11's "Eagle" landed on the surface of the Moon with American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on board.  A third astronaut, Michael Collins, remained with the mother ship in orbit around the Moon.

The first words spoken on the Moon and transmitted back to Earth was those of Neil Armstrong...

"Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed."

JFK+50 NOTE

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy, in an address to the Congress, said..."This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out,  of landing a man on the moon..." 

On July 20, 1969, that goal was achieved.  As Sargent Shriver, JFK's Peace Corps director later said..."What a vision that was!"

SOURCE

"The Eagle Has Landed, USA On The Moon," JFK+50, July 20, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.ocm/ 

 Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin Salutes Flag on The Moon

July 20, 1969

Photo by Neil Armstrong

NASA

"COMPRISES 4/5 OF IRELAND WITH 26 COUNTIES"

IRISH FREE STATE DECLARED 100 YEARS AGO

Dublin, Ireland (JFK+50) On December 6, 1922, the Irish Free State* was officially declared as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in December 1921.

The IFS was a dominion of the British Empire with equal status to other states such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

On December 8, 1922, six counties opted out of the Free State becoming Northern Ireland.  

The five year fight for Irish independence (1916-1921) had ended successfully.  Michael Collins** was a key member of the Irish delegation which traveled to London to negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty. 

*Irish Free State comprises 4/5 of Ireland with 26 counties.  The remaining 1/5 of Ireland is Northern Ireland with 6 counties.

**Michael Collins (1890-1922) was born in Woodfield, County Cork & became director of intelligence in the Irish Republican Army.  MC was chairman of the provisional government & commander of the national army.  He was killed in an ambush. 

SOURCE

"Irish Free State Facts and Worksheets," School History, www.schoolhistory.co.uk/ 

   

 

Michael Collins

Cork, Ireland

St. Patrick's Day, 1922

Underwood & Underwood

Library of Congress

'HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE. THE EAGLE HAS LANDED"

AMERICANS LAND ON THE MOON

Houston, Texas (JFK+50) On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong* and Buzz Aldrin** touched down on the lunar surface.  With Michael Collins*** at the controls of the mother ship Columbia in lunar orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface of the moon aboard Eagle.

At 3:17 p.m., Houston time, Armstrong reported...

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." 

This response came from Charles Duke, Capsule Communicator based here in Houston...

"Roger, Tranquility.  We copy you on the ground.  You've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue.  We're breathing again."

Later, at 9:39 p.m (CDT), Armstrong opened the hatch and descended the ladder.   He turned on a black & white TV camera and set his left foot on the moon's surface.

Five hundred million people were watching as he stepped down from the ladder and said...

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The first part of President John F. Kennedy's goal set in 1961 to land a man on the moon by decade's end had been accomplished.  The second part was a safe return to Earth.

Neil Armstrong Steps onto the Moon

NASA Photo from TV Image

July 20, 1969

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2015

JFK'S GOAL ACHIEVED 47 YEARS AGO TODAY

Houston, Texas (JFK+50) In May 1961, speaking to the United States Congress, President John F. Kennedy set the goal of "landing a man on the moon" before the end of the decade.  On September 12, 1962, President Kennedy spoke to 35,000 people at Rice Stadium here in Houston.  He said...

"We choose to go to the Moon in this decade...because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win."

Forty-seven years ago today, July 20, 1969, JFK's vision of landing a man on the moon was achieved when astronauts Neil Armstrong* and Buzz
Aldrin** touched down on the lunar surface. With astronaut Michael Collins*** at the controls of the mother ship Columbia in lunar orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface of the moon aboard Eagle.

At 3:17 p.m., CDT Armstrong reported...

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." 

This response came from Charles Duke, Capsule Communicator based here in Houston...

"Roger, Tranquility.  We copy you on the ground.  You've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue.  We're breathing again."

Later, at 9:39 p.m., Neil Armstrong opened the hatch and began his walk down the ladder. He turned on a TV camera and set his left foot on the moon's surface.  Five hundred million people were watching as he stepped down from the ladder of the lunar module and said...

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

*Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  He served in the US Navy in the Korean War. NA was a graduate of Purdue University and later after becoming a test pilot joined the astronaut corps in 1962. His 1st space flight was on Gemini 8 in 1966. 

**Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin was born in Montclair, NJ on Jan 20, 1930. He is a graduate of West Point where he majored in mechanical engineering. 
Buzz served in Korea and flew 66 combat missions.  He joined the astronaut program in 1963.

***Michael Collins was born in Rome, Italy, the son of a US military officer, on October 31, 1930.  He attended West Point and joined the US Air Force.

MC was accepted to the astronaut program in 1963 and his 1st space flight came on Gemini 10.

SOURCES

"One Small Step:  Celebrating the First Men on the Moon," by Jerry Stone, Templar Publishing, Great Britain, 2009.

"The Eagle Has Landed: Happy Anniversary, Apollo 11," by Nate Rawlings, July 20, 2011,  www.newsfeed.time.com/

JFK Speaks at Rice University
Houston, Texas
September 12, 1962
NASA Photo

     

JFK'S GOAL TO LAND A MAN ON THE MOON ACHIEVED

July 20, 2013

JFK'S GOAL TO LAND A MAN ON THE MOON ACHIEVED 44 YEARS AGO TODAY

Houston, Texas (JFK+50) On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy said...

"Now it is time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement.  We possess all the resources and talents necessary.

This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.

No single space project will be more impressive...and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish...but...in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon...it will be an entire nation."

             President John F. Kennedy
            House Chamber, US Capitol
                    Washington, D.C.
                         May 25, 1961

The first part of JFK's commitment was achieved 44 years ago today, July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11's Eagle landed  on the surface of the Moon with two American astronauts on board, Neil Armstrong* and Buzz Aldrin**.

The third Apollo astronaut, Michael Collins***, was at the controls of the mother ship, Columbia, which remained in lunar orbit.

After a touch and go descent, at 3:17 p.m. (CDT) Armstrong reported:

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." 

This response came from Charles Duke, Capsule Communicator based here in Houston...

"Roger, Tranquility.  We copy you on the ground.  You've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue.  We're breathing again."

Later, at 9:39 p.m (CDT), Armstrong opened the hatch and began his walk down the ladder. He turned on a black and white TV camera and set his left foot on the Moon's surface.

500 million people were watching as Neil Armstrong stepped down from the ladder of the lunar module and said...

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

      Neil Armstrong Steps onto the Moon
            NASA Photo from TV Image
                          July 20, 1969


INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOON

The Moon is 2160 miles or 3476 kilometers in diameter.  Its distance from the Earth ranges from 221,830 miles or 252,898 kilometers to 357,000 miles or 407,000 kilometers.

The Moon's surface temperature ranges from a minimum of -272 degrees F. (-169 degrees C) to a maximum of 243 degrees F. (117 degrees C).  The average temperature on the Moon is 63 degrees below 0, F. (-53 degrees C).

It takes the Moon 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes to make one revolution.

                  Nearside of the Moon 
   From Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 
                     NASA Photo (2011)

STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM

In 1865, more than a century before Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, Jules Verne, a French novelist, wrote about three men who fly to the Moon from Florida in a rocket.

 In "From the Earth to the Moon", the men are shot into space by a gigantic gun (are you ready for this?) named the Columbiad.  The trio fly around the Moon before returning to Earth.

On their way back home, the Apollo 11 crew made a televised broadcast from space on July 23, 1969.  In that telecast, Neil Armstrong said...

"A hundred years ago, Jules Verne wrote a book about a voyage to the Moon.  His spaceship...took off from Florida and landed in the Pacific Ocean after completing a trip to the Moon."

         
            "From the Earth to the Moon"
   Illustration by Henri de Montaut (1868)

SOURCES

"One Small Step:  Celebrating the First Men on the Moon," by Jerry Stone, Templar Publishing, Great Britain, 2009.

"The Eagle Has Landed: Happy Anniversary, Apollo 11," by Nate Rawlings, July 20, 2011,  www.newsfeed.time.com/


"Fly me to the moon
 Let me swing among the stars
 Let me see what spring is like
 On Jupiter and Mars."

"Fly Me to the Moon" was written by Paul Francis Webster and Sonny Burke.
  
The song was 1st recorded in 1954 by Kaye Ballard but the best known version, arranged by Quincy Jones, was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1964.  Buzz Aldrin played it as he walked on the moon.

                 
*Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  He served in the US Navy in the Korean War. NA was a graduate of Purdue University and later after becoming a test pilot joined the astronaut corps in 1962. His 1st space flight was on Gemini 8 in 1966. He was Apollo 11 commander and the 1st person to walk on the moon. 

                        Neil Armstrong
                           NASA Photo

Neil Armstrong died on August 25, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio from complications of heart bypass surgery.  He was 82 years old.

                 Neil Armstrong Statue
                     Purdue University
               West Lafayette, Indiana
         Photo by Huw Williams (2008)


**Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin was born in Montclair, NJ on Jan 20, 1930. He is a graduate of West Point where he majored in mechanical engineering. BA served in Korea and flew 66 combat missions.  He joined the astronaut program in 1963.

               Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr.
                           NASA Photo


***Michael Collins was born in Rome, Italy, the son of a US military officer, on October 31, 1930.  He attended West Point and joined the US Air Force.
MC was accepted to the astronaut program in 1963 and his 1st space flight came on Gemini 10.

                            Michael Collins
                                NASA Photo

On August 7, 2009, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

           Aldrin, Collins and Armstrong
         with President Barack Obama
                   The White House
                      July 20, 2009
                Photo by Bill Ingalls

                  Aldrin Steps Off LM
                        July 20, 1969
            Photo by Neil Armstrong
                        NASA Photo

                          Aldrin Salutes Flag
                               July 20, 1969
                    Photo by Neil Armstrong
                                NASA Photo

                           Apollo 11 Patch
             Designed by Michael Collins
                                   NASA

IRISH MEMORIAL DEDICATED TODAY IN CHARLESTON, SC

June 10, 2013

IRISH MEMORIAL DEDICATED TODAY  IN CHARLESTON, SC

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) The 1st Irish-American President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, would have been proud today as the city of Charleston, South Carolina dedicates a memorial in honor of the contributions of the Irish to the State of South Carolina and the United States of America.

Those contributions included fighting in the American Civil War, laboring on the bridges across Charleston harbor, signing the Declaration of Independence and serving as city mayors.

Michael Collins*, Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, will join other Irish officials, including those from Charleston's 'twin locale' County Claire and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley** in dedicating the memorial.

The Irish Memorial is located at the end of Charlotte Street on the Charleston Harbor waterfront.  The official name of the site, designed by Sheila Wertimer, will be CHARLOTTE STREET PARK.^

                    Charlotte Street Park
                   City of Charleston, SC
            Photo by John White (2013)

^The Irish Central website refers to it as "The South Carolina Irish Memorial."

The park includes a concrete pier which extends out over the water and a raised 30 x 24 foot carved granite map of Ireland.  There are also plaques displayed with quotes about Irish immigration to the United States.

               Irish Immigrant Memorial
                    Charlotte Street Park
                         Charleston, SC
             Photo by John White (2013)

David McCann, a member of the memorial committee, describes the park as "beautiful, (they did) a remarkable job."

The park was completed at a cost of $2.4 million.

*Michael Collins was born in Dublin in 1953 and graduated from Trinity College in 1978.  Before becoming US ambassador, he served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Emirates as well as ambassador to the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

**Joseph P. Riley, Jr. was born in Charleston, S.C. in 1943.  He graduated from The Citidel in 1964, and USC College of Law in 1967.  Mr. Riley has served 10 terms as mayor of Charleston since 1975.  He is a Democrat and member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.  

                    Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
                        US Navy Photo (2010)


SOURCES

"Charleston's new Irish memorial park dedication set for June 10," by Schuyler Kropf, May 28, 2013, www.postandcourier.com

"Irish ambassador, South Carolina officials dedicate memorial," ABC NEWS 4, Charleston, www.abcnews4.com

"Irish ambassador, South Carolina officials dedicate memorial," by Bruce Smith-AP, www.myrtlebeachonline.com

"South Carolina Irish Memorial Park celebrating emigrants to be opened this month," by Amanda Driscoll, www.irishcentral.com


UPDATE: June 27, 2013

A VISIT TO THE IRISH MEMORIAL

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) As promised, JFK+50 is back in Charleston today where we made the pilgrimage down to Charlotte Avenue Park to visit the newly opened IRISH IMMIGRANT MEMORIAL.

We walked from the Market several blocks along East Bay Street in the heat and humidity.  The park is located beyond the Fort Sumter Historic Site National Park Service Building and the Charleston Aquarium.

There were only 2 people sitting on one of the benches in the park.  Otherwise it was completely deserted.  I found it heartening to be visiting the Irish Memorial on the day 50 years ago that JFK visited Ireland.

The park is beautiful and the large stone map of the Emerald Isle is indeed impressive.  For good photographs it would be best to go in the morning, but for a cooler, less humid experience, perhaps dusk would be best.

Following are some of the photographs I made today of the memorial.

June 10, 2013

JFK GAVE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SPEECH 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was the keynote speaker at graduation ceremonies of American University in Washington, D.C. 50 years ago today, June 10, 1963.

JFK, in a break from cold war tradition, made peace overtures to the USSR.

The President said that despite our philosophical differences...

"We can still hail the Russian people for their many achievements--in science and space, in economic and industrial growth, in culture and in acts of courage."

JFK called for....

 "a genuine peace, the kind that makes life on earth worth living..." 

He also announced that talks would soon begin in Moscow between Soviet, British and American representatives to work out a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

The President said:

"In the final analysis our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's future, and we are all mortal."

       JFK Speaks at American University
                       Washington, D.C.
                          June 10, 1963
               Photo by Cecil Stoughton
                       JFK Library Photo

HONORING US MOON LANDING 42 YEARS AGO TODAY

 July 20, 2011


HONORING US MOON LANDING 42 YEARS AGO TODAY

                           Apollo 11 Patch
             Designed by Michael Collins
                                   NASA


*Today's JFK+50 will devote the entire posting to this event.


"Fly me to the moon
 Let me swing among the stars
 Let me see what spring is like
 On Jupiter & Mars."


"Fly Me to the Moon" written by Paul Francis Webster & Sonny Burke.
  
"Fly Me to the Moon" was 1st recorded in 1954 by Kaye Ballard.  The best known version, arranged by Quincy Jones, was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1964.  Buzz Aldrin played it as he walked on the moon.

                  Nearside of the Moon 
   From Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 
                     NASA Photo (2011)


July 20, 1969


THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, USA ON THE MOON


Mare Tranquillitatis, The Moon (JFK+50) In 1961, President John F. Kennedy pledged to the American people & to the people of the earth:


"This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon & returning him safely to the earth."


Today, at 4:17:40 pm (EDT), the 1st part of JFK's goal was achieved when Apollo 11's  "Eagle" landed  on the moon's surface with 2 American astronauts on board.*


*The 3rd astronaut, Michael Collins, was piloting the Columbia in lunar orbit.


After a touch & go descent, during which he had to take over manual control of the landing from the computer, Neil Armstrong reported:


"Houston. Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed."*


*The Eagle became Tranquility Base upon landing on the moon's surface.


Later, at 10:39 p.m (EDT), Armstrong opened the hatch & began his walk down the LM (Lunar Module) ladder.  He turned on the black & white TV camera attached to the LM & set his left foot on the lunar soil.


More than 500 million people (yours truly included) had their eyes glued to their TV screens across the globe.  As he made that historic step, Armstrong said:


"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Neil Armstrong Steps onto the Moon
      NASA Photo from TV Image
                    July 20, 1969


Apollo 11 Astronauts*


NEIL ARMSTRONG


Neil Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  He served in the US Navy, was in the Korean War, & later became a test pilot.


He joined the astronaut corps in 1962 & his 1st space flight was on Gemini 8 in 1966.


Neil Armstrong was Apollo 11 commander & the 1st person to walk on the moon.

                        Neil Armstrong
                           NASA Photo


EDWIN "BUZZ" ALDRIN


Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey on January 20, 1930.


He is a graduate of West Point where he earned BS in mechanical engineering.


Aldrin served in Korea where he flew 66 combat missions.  He joined the astronaut program in 1963.*


*Aldrin, a Presbyterian, took communion on the lunar surface although he kept it a secret at the time.

               Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr.
                           NASA Photo


MICHAEL COLLINS


Michael Collins was born in Rome, Italy (the son of a US military officer) on October 31, 1930.


Collins attended West Point but then joined the US Air Force.


He was accepted to the astronaut program in 1963 & his 1st space flight was on Gemini 10.


Collins created the Apollo 11 patch & later when asked if he was lonely while in orbit around the moon, he said no, he felt...


"awareness, anticipation, satisfaction, confidence, almost exultation."

                            Michael Collins
                                NASA Photo


*On August 7, 2009, by an act of the Congress of the United States, these 3 heroes were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

           Aldrin, Collins & Armstrong
         with President Barack Obama
          The White House, Oval Office
                          July 20, 2009
                Photo by Bill Ingalls


President Richard M. Nixon


Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States, watched the coverage of the lunar landing on television at the White House.


Mr. Nixon spoke directly with the astronauts from his telephone in the Oval Office which was linked to Houston.*


*In 1972, President Nixon approved the development of the Space Shuttle which in the morning is scheduled to officially end operations as the last shuttle returns to earth.

             Buzz Aldrin Steps Off LM
                        July 20, 1969
            Photo by Neil Armstrong
                        NASA Photo

                 Buzz Aldrin Salutes US Flag
                               July 20, 1969
                    Photo by Neil Armstrong
                                NASA Photo