Posted on 08/26/2012 12:49:43 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
State funerals, held in the US capital Washington DC, are steeped in tradition and usually only held for former presidents, the last being Gerald Ford in 2006.
The last non-president to be granted one was Gen Douglas MacArthur, the Second World War and Korean War soldier, in 1964, five years before Armstrong landed on the moon. Such an event typically involves pall-bearers from five branches of the US Armed Forces, a series of artillery salutes, a fly-past and a number of bands and choirs.
The flag-draped coffin is taken in a horse-drawn gun-carriage and placed in the Capitol rotunda for a public viewing, and a service is held at the Washington National Cathedral. Bill Johnson, a Republican congressman from Armstrong's home state of Ohio, led calls for the astronaut to get a similar honour.
"I ask President Obama to hold a state funeral for Neil Armstrong so that every American may pay tribute to this groundbreaking hero," he said. "His first step on the moon showed the world that Americans can do anything."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
If anyone deserves it Armstrong does if its what his family wishes.
I can think of few men ever that should be Honored more than Neil Armstrong. A giant among men. A state funeral is the least we can do for the memory of such a man.
Agree. But he’s white and spoke out against zobama gutting NASA.
IMO, never happen, to busy dividing the country.
I would be for this as long as the tax payers don’t pay a dime. If a fund could be set up for donations and family pays some than I think it is a great idea. 16 trillion is coming upon us fast and we cannot afford to do things like this and other goodies. Those days MUST be over.
Obama’s into strong-arm, not Armstrong...
It’s hard to imagine Jimmy Carter deserving one if Armstong doesn’t. Carter isn’t worthy of attending Armstrong’s funeral.
Here’s an idea, why not ask the family what they want instead of some publicity-seeking congresscritter? I would agree that Armstrong deserves all the honors the country can bestow on him. But he’s spent the last 40 years avoiding the glare of the public spotlight. I doubt that he’d want to change that on his death, and his family would be the best judge of that. Ask them, and then do exactly what they suggest.
It will happen if there’s political gain for him, that’s the only consideration here.
from what i’ve read of the man, i’m fairly certain Neil wouldn’t want an overt ceremony.
of course, 0bama trotting out the coffin of the first man on the moon as he shutters NASA seems 100% accurate
Agreed. There is no doubt that Neil Armstrong deserves the honor, but the wishes of his family should be respected.
Will the Kenyan Caliph do it? As one poster pointed out, he will if he thinks he can milk it for political points. Besides, NASA is about muslim outreach now, not heroes like Neil Armstrong.
I can’t imagine Neil Armstrong wanting a state funeral. He’s a man who repeatedly shunned the lime-light, and resisted opportunities to cash in on his deeds. Sadly, I can just as easily envision his Apollo 11 crew mate, Buzz Aldrin, relishing an opportunity for a state funeral. While Brigadier General Aldrin has been a staunch supporter of the space program, he’s also the guy who “retired” to Beverly Hills, and has lent his name to a variety of projects and schemes, including a rap record that was tied into space exploration.
Unfortunately for Buzz, #2 on the moon doesn’t entitle one to a state funeral.
I agree, but hope that it wouldn’t lead to the same consideration for national embarrassment John Glen who turned himself into a liberal pawn for Bill Clinton.
I disagree in this type of case. However, when Mr. Obama dies, either the NAACP, CP-USA or United Nations should pay for that funeral. LTJG Armstrong deserves a state funeral or nobody does.
If the family likes this idea, great. Otherwise, just have a special ceremony in the fall and put a plaque or a statue somewhere and let them have a private memorial.
I don’t have a problem with a state funeral for Armstrong, but I would be concerned about the precedent that would be set. Yes, I read the article. I am talking about in the future. I have NO confidence in any Democrat President to only do state funerals for exceptional people. Perhaps there is something else, short of a state funeral that could be done.
I think Presidents should. Astronauts not so much.
Say what you want about his ONE major accomplishment, but one mission which was pretty much based on the luck of the draw does not rate a state funeral. It’s not like he did it on his own; there were MANY people behind the scenes who should receive more credit for man walking on the moon.
If he rated a state funeral, there’d be at least 100 per year for others at least as accomplished.
The Plains, GA 7-11 will sell out of 6 packs after Jimmah’s funeral.
Anyway, there's Generals, Heads of State and other politicians but Armstrong is perhaps above them all. He took the task and the risk of achieving man's greatest feat. He indeed deserves a State funeral and at Federal expense. This shouldn't even be questioned or argued. To those who experienced that moment in 1969 it's as clear as day and just as powerful in our memory of America's greatest Pioneer.. He raised America to her greatest sense of patriotic nationalism she's ever experienced. On par with America's triumphs in past wars, this event also symbolized the conquering of our rival, the USSR. You could feel what America did on July 29, 1969.. The pride was in the air and far away on the moon stood the most humble man that gave us this gift. He gave America one of her greatest moments. God bless Neil Armstong.
Yes, he should.
“You didn’t build that”
You didn’t walk on the moon.
Yeah, right,...got it.
If obama did decree a state funeral then what about buzz? It wouldn’t be fair. Waah. Waah. After all isn’t buzz aldrin as important as neil armstrong. And then what about the ground control dudes. Aren’t they important too?
I mean Armstrong didn’t do that. Someone else made that happen. (Sarcasm)
Armstrong didn’t build it, even he he did walk on the moon.
I know nothing of Armstrong’s life other than his moon mission.
But he doesn’t rate a state funeral for a moon walk.
Another platform from which Obama can campaign - an opportunity to appear ‘presidential’.
He should have a world state funeral. His achievement however so small in your mind is the single most amazing achievement and at this point looks to be the peek of humankind.
To honor him this way is to honor everyone.
Please, as true as this maybe, lets not be petty.
If his family allowed it: I’d support his being fired off into space.
That would be really cool.
Absolutely; but even while watching, I thought Armstrong walking on the moon was almost entirely an American accomplishment, not an individual one.
That’s why I also pointed out that you could “feel what America did”..
He stopped autographing things in 1974 when he realized such items were fetching good money. He was humble and didn’t want to ‘commercialize’ the accomplishment. As such, I would imagine his signature is quite valuable. There’s film/video of him politely refusing to autograph fan’s items.
We are way past the point of no return concerning government deficit spending. There is no way the debt can be repaid. The only question left is when the train wreck happens. The best thing that one can do is to position yourself to weather the crash as best as you can.
As far as a state funeral is concerned, if Armstrong doesn't deserve one, nobody does.
Obama will reject the wishes of the American people and Armstrong family or he will pander to their demands and exploit Armstrong for political purposes.
Yep. I bet Axelrod is polling on it right now.
By honoring Armstrong, upon his death, with a state funeral, you honor the whole nation.
Interesting. Former Yankee Don Mattingly stopped getting (paid) invitations to baseball card shows when the organizers found out that he’d autograph cards and other memorabilia for anyone outside the event who happened to ask him for it. Apparently it never occurred to him that his autograph was “valuable,” and that the whole purpose of setting up a baseball card show was to allow the organizers and attendees to capitalize on it. LOL.
Obama will only buckle if he can make it an islamic funeral as part of NASAs new muslim outretch charter.
In a statement released on Saturday, his family paid tribute to “a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job.”
“While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
“For those who may ask what they can do to honour Neil, we have a simple request. Honour his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”
1. What about the rest of the Apollo 11 crew?
2. What about other astronauts from that era, including three who lost their lives while working for the U.S. space program? Did the astronauts from the tragic Apollo 1 incident get state funerals?
3. How about other people in the U.S. space program whose contributions -- while hidden from public view -- may have been even more critical to the success of the mission than Armstrong's?
4. How about other Americans who have made tremendous contributions to the U.S. and to humanity in general? The medical profession would seem to have quite a few figures whose contributions to our personal and national well-being dwarfs what was done in the space program.
There will be a statue of him on the Moon one day.
Armstrong was the first human being - the first living being from the Earth - to set foot on another world. No matter how long the human race lasts, no matter how many wonders it accomplishes in the far future, Armstrong’s achievement must always be mentioned among man’s most noteworthy feats. No government honor is too high for him - if his family wishes it, and if Armstrong would have wished it, he should get a state funeral without question.
Yes, he did land that.
That's not really a part of Obama's message for Americans.
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