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Local events to mark 1969 moon landing

Anne Perry and her daughters Lydi and Beth of Plymouth, Mich., look at the Gemini Spacecraft on exhibit at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Anne Perry and her daughters Lydi and Beth of Plymouth, Mich., look at the Gemini Spacecraft on exhibit at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

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Staff photo by Jim Witmer Rick Larimer and his son, Luke, of Washington Twp., look at a moon rock at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writer Updated 9:34 PM Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Nearly 40 years have passed since Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and into history.

The astronaut’s hometown will be anything but a sea of tranquility in the coming days as a celebration of the historic moon landing kicks into high gear for the anniversary on Monday, July 20.

Armstrong Air & Space Museum director Becky Macwhinney said the first moon landing in 1969 was “a pinnacle moment in history” because of what it accomplished on the moon and back here on Earth.

It came during a tumultuous time marked by the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watched as Armstrong took those first steps and uttered the words, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”

Macwhinney said, “It really brought the world together as one for that moment.”

Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin — the first two humans too walk on the moon — will be in the Dayton area this week, highlighting a historic gathering of Apollo astronauts coming to the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual celebration of prominent aviators.

Thirteen Apollo astronauts will be receive the Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award to honor their contributions to space exploration.

Dan Graf, director of the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce who is on the committee that helped plan events commemorating the anniversary, watched the first moon landing on a TV in the garage of Armstrong’s parents’ home in Wapakoneta.

“You just felt connected,” Graf said of Armstrong, who put Wapakoneta on the map with his first lunar footsteps.

“I think the town followed the space program very closely knowing they had a native son involved in it.”

Summer Moon Festival

What: Enjoy rides, games and entertainment. See the world’s largest moon pie, which will be displayed at the chamber of commerce at 30 E. Auglaize St., on Friday and Saturday. It will be eaten at the museum following a moon pie contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.Nationally acclaimed “Cheese Lady” Sarah Kaufmann will carve a life-sized astronaut from 1,800 pounds of cheese at the Kroger store at 475 Fortman Road in St. Marys from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It will appear at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum on Sunday.
When: Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 11 p.m.; Friday 1 p.m. to midnight; Saturday 7 a.m. to midnight
Where: Armstrong Air & Space Museum, located just off Interstate 75 in Wapakoneta.
More information: (800) 860-0142 or visit www.summermoonfestival.com

40th Anniversary of Moon Landing  and Community Open House

What: The museum celebrates the anniversary with commemorative postal covers with a special cancellation by the Wapakoneta Post Office will be on sale. Residents of Auglaize County will receive free admission for the day. All other visitors receive half off of admission. Museum admission (Monday only): $4/adults, $2/youth (ages 6-12).
The museum will feature special NASA exhibits on Sunday and Monday, including “Journey to Tomorrow,” a 53-foot trailer that features an interactive environment with hands-on activities and digital learning stations.
Where: Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wapakoneta
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Monday

Buzz Aldrin at Books & Co.

What: Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon, will discuss his book, “Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon” and sign copies.
When: Friday, July 17, noon to 1:30 p.m.; line numbers beginning at 11 a.m.
Where: Books & Co. at The Greene, 4453 Walnut St., Beavercreek

Family Day — Apollo 11

What: Family Day features hand-on activities and exhibits that highlight rocketry, space flight and space history. All activities are free. Visitors can build and launch their own air-powered paper rocket and members of a local rocketry club will answer questions and show a wide range of model and high-power rockets. Visitors can view actual samples of lunar dust and rocks brought back to Earth by the Apollo astronauts.
Some stations will demonstrate the concepts of microgravity (freefall) and basic rocketry principles such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, rocket control and guidance systems. Younger visitors will enjoy being able to make their own paper astronauts.
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
More information: Call (937) 255-8048

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