American Astronaut, Neil Armstrong, has died at age 82. He was the first
person to step foot on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong had
a student’s pilot license before he could even drive. He served as a US Navy
Officer in the Korean War. He led the Apollo 11 spaceflight as mission
commander. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Aeronautical
Engineering. He earned a Master of Science degree in engineering from USC. He
also taught Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Congressional Space Medal of
Honor, a Congressional Gold Medal, and a Langley Gold Medal. Neil Armstrong’s
first words after landing on the moon would be come part of the American lexicon:
“"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Former first lady, Betty Ford, has died at age 93. Mrs. Ford was a well known leader of the Women's Movement, an activist for the Equal Rights Amendment, a Pro-Choice supporter and raised awareness of breast cancer following her own mastectomy in 1974. In the 1970's she raised awareness of issues surrounding addiction when she bravely announced her own battle with alcoholism. She established the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, CA in 1982, for treatment of chemical dependency. In 1991 Mrs. Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 1999 she received a Congressional Gold Medal.
