Proud Americans

Readers Share Their Feelings About The Apollo 11 Moon Mission

July 20, 1989

RUNNER-UP: Connie W. Watson, Williamsburg

Langston Hughes wrote:

"Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly."

When the message came from the moon on July 20, 1969, that "The Eagle has landed," millions of Americans knew that the dream they had pursued for the last decade, the seemingly impossible goal of putting a man on the surface of the moon, was being realized.

As Neil Armstrong prepared for his steps into history, a young couple took a Sunday afternoon stroll past the beautiful crape myrtles to the Sunken Gardens at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. A pause, a kiss and the glint of a diamond engagement ring as it was slipped into place expressed the dream that would mold two lives in the future.

Perhaps the goal of a happy marriage seems far removed from the space program, but in many ways they were variations on the same theme. We had a new world ahead of us, one that would be filled with excitement and hard work, one that required dedication from the participants and support and encouragement from family and friends, one that required faith in each other, in ourselves and in God. But we felt confident we could succeed. Like the pioneers in the space program, we could do whatever we set our hearts and minds on.

The space program had had tragedy and detractors, yet it had survived. When there had been seemingly insurmountable obstacles, people had worked together to find the solutions. Scientists labored to unlock the universe, while many people complained about the high costs and what they viewed as little return on the taxpayer's investment. After all, couldn't the money have been better spent in social programs?

But in retrospect, the space programs had numerous benefits. Educationally, our children were encouraged to excel, not only in mathematics and science but also in those creative areas where minds asked "What if...?" and expressed those ideas in innovative and artistic ways. Technologically, so many of the labor saving devices we rely on today, such as time-saving foods and computers, were a by-product of the space program. While friendly relations with the Russians are welcome now, who can deny the benefit of the competitive spirit in the race for space? But most important was the sense of purpose and cooperation that grew among ordinary people. The sense that we were all involved in a national project - from NASA scientists to factory machinists building the lunar landing module to the secretary whose taxes helped to pay the bill - brought this country together with a feeling of shared pride and patriotism while the war in Vietnam was tearing us apart.

My memories of July 20, 1969, are colored with the happiness of a "giant leap" in my own life, but the great pride that came from being an American on that day remains strong. We set a goal - we said we would do it and we did it! That ability to "hold fast to dreams" seems to be weakening. I would like to see our society set more goals and strive to reach them, not settle for mediocrity in school, not do "just enough to get by" on the job, not wallow in apathy or self-pity, resorting to drugs as a temporary solution.

Space holds a strong fascination for people. Its limitlessness expands our minds. Just as people seemed collectively to hold their breath in July 20, 1969, breathing sighs of relief with each successful completion of an aspect of the flight and landing, and just as we found ourselves bound together in grief at the loss of the Challenger crew in a more recent space effort, we forge a sense of brotherhood when we stand on the edge of the unknown and believe that together we can surmount any obstacle. If a return to the moon - or a journey beyond - can help us recapture the American spirit, then it would be worth it. Let us "hold fast to dreams" so that the "broken-winged bird" is not our American bald eagle.

* Watson, a teacher at Lafayette High School, won $25.

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