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 ...
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.
That's not really a part of Obama's message for Americans.
We increase the national debt by $4 billion a day and you want to save taxpayer money on the backs of our heroes? What's next, no more flags for the families of those killed in action?
would be for this as long as the tax payers dont pay a dime.
One of the most dispicable and disgraceful statements I have ever seen on FR in the ten years I have been on the site. You should be ashamed of yourself.
It would be an honor to Armstrong for a state funeral but a dishonor to all in the space program if O shows up.
Hussein will do so and turn it into a political event for himself, to get himself on TV and a to get his imbecile followers to send money.
You-know-who will wonder at the fuss over a dang astronaut!
You-know-who will wonder at the fuss over a dang astronaut!
I think that would be appropriate.
President Nixon invited Teddy Kennedy to attend the Apollo 11 launch but he turned down the invitation. If he had accepted it there wouldn't have been that party at Chappaquiddick. Mary Jo Kopechne would have lived to see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, and might be alive today to watch his funeral on TV.
I agree with you. However, from everything I’ve read about this guy over the years...it would be the LAST thing he would want.
True. But it wasn't 'just a moon walk'.
He was the first to fulfill the dreams of hundreds of millions of men, who, over thousands, or perhaps even tens of thousands of years, dreamt of walking on the moon.
Millions devoted their entire lives for such an achievement. Many died in their efforts.
We owe it to many more than Neil to recognize this symbol of mans tremendous scientific efforts and successes to bury him with this honor.
What about them?
We need to honor the symbol of the achievement and sacrifice of all of those you spoke about.
That symbol is Neil Armstrong.
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