THE DEATH OF A TRAILBLAZER BEYOND THIS WORLD............

Neil Armstrong, who 43 years, 1 monh, and 5 days, ago - on July 20, 1969, made until then unprecedented universal history by becoming the first human to step and walk on the Moon, has died today at the age of 82, from complications following heart surgery.  Armstrong was the Commander of the American NASA Apollo XI Space mission in the summer of 1969, that fulfilled the goal set by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth before the end of the decade.  What he and his astronaut colleagues accomplished are wonderfully captured in the spirit of the words he proclaimed as he set foot on the Moon's surface on that day more than four decades ago, "One small step for man; One giant leap for mankind".  Thanks to Neil Armstrong and two generations of others committed to pioneering and participating in journeys in Space, America and the World are a more greatly empowered by the knowledge, insight, and technological development that their endeavors have helped to attain and to further.  God Bless Neil Armstrong and May the Light of the Heavens he once orbited from outer Space and the Moon now Shine upon him Everlastingly............Fr.  Troy