Armstrong was a hero, but not heroic. He was modest, but not "humble," as so many self-styled heroes are today. He simply didn't like the limelight, and didn't want people to make a fuss over him. He was far more than an adventurer -- he was a combat pilot, a test pilot, a very gifted aerospace engineer. All these skills made him a high-ranking candidate for the lunar expedition. Add to that his seemingly imperturbable calm, and he was the perfect choice.
It was Sunday night, July 20, 1969, 8:56 p.m. MDT. We gathered in front of our TV in the living room with a bunch of neighbors and watched Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. It was one of the defining moments of my life. I dreamed of going into space; we built rocket ships in our back yards out of cardboard boxes; we went on a million missions. Thanks, Neil . . . and Buzz and Michael and ALL the astronauts, from every country. Nothing is impossible.
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