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 ...
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.
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