[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 70 (Monday, May 1, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5917-S5918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     BUZZ ALDRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, last Tuesday I had the privilege of 
attending the dedication ceremony naming the Buzz Aldrin Elementary 
School, in Reston, VA.
  The school's namesake, Dr. Aldrin, delivered a very moving statement 
at that event. He reminded the students that ``no dream is too high for 
those with their eyes in the sky.''
  Who among us does not remember being riveted by the words ``one small 

[[Page S5918]] step for man; one giant leap for mankind?'' Buzz 
Aldrin's inspiring remarks brought back that momentous day--July 20, 
1969--when the Eagle landed and man's first steps were taken on the 
moon. Most importantly, he made it clear to the students in the 
audience that they, too, can and will accomplish great things.
  I am pleased to share Dr. Aldrin's remarks with my colleagues and ask 
that they be printed in the Record.
  The remarks follow:

A Speech by Buzz Aldrin Upon the Dedica- tion of the School 
                           Named in His Honor

       Few people have the opportunity to attend the dedication of 
     a school that has been named for them. My family and I are 
     appreciative that the leadership of Fairfax County named 
     Aldrin Elementary School in my honor, rather than in my 
     memory! Thank you very much. It is a privilege to be here.
       Twenty-five years ago it was a privilege to be there. It 
     was incredible to be someone who lived the words, ``to go 
     where no man has gone before,'' and science fiction became 
     scientific fact when we walked on the moon.
       Some of you in the audience may still remember where you 
     were when you heard that the Eagle had landed. Some of you 
     sat glued to a television screen as I climbed down to the 
     surface of the moon. For a nation unwilling to accept second 
     place in the race for space, it was a declaration of victory. 
     For a world believing that space was an unconquerable 
     frontier, it was a shout of triumph. ``One small step for 
     man; one giant leap for mankind.''
       I still hear those words in my ears, just like the hallways 
     of this school echo with the steps of boys and girls and 
     adults. Each day students, teachers, and administrators alike 
     are taking small steps together to embrace the future. Some 
     steps are taken in wheelchairs. Some steps are aided by 
     walkers. Some steps are the small steps of two year olds and 
     the larger ones are the steps of 12 years olds. But no one 
     really moves toward the future alone. Each of us has been 
     helped in our stride toward tomorrow. The steps that occur 
     within this school are not steps taken alone. Parents bold 
     the hand of their children, each step a step of love. 
     Teachers hold the hands of students, each step a step of 
     knowledge. Administrators hold the hands of students, 
     parents, and faculty so that each step is supported. And 
     community people, business leaders, people like Brian M. 
     Mulholland, government officials like Senator Robb, Senator 
     Warner, and so many others join hands and walk with this 
     student body because the steps of students and faculty may 
     look like small strides, but actually they are the steps that 
     will take us into a world that will look very different.
       It is here that you must take advantage of the latest in 
     science and technology. It is here that you must realize that 
     no dream is too small. And it is from here that a new 
     generation of All-Stars have been born. Your theme this year 
     has been ``Reaching for the Moon With Its Stars,'' and 
     appropriately so. Schools are places for those small steps 
     that later become giant leaps. It is here that hopes are 
     nurtured and cultivated. It is here that children can be 
     instructed to do what others have done, and be challenged to 
     do what no one else has accomplished.
       My message to you today is that ``No dream is too high for 
     those with their eyes in the sky.''
       You honor more than me and my name with this school. You 
     honor the dreams that propelled our nation to explore space 
     and the hopes that continue to lead us toward the future. May 
     we continue to honor our hopes and dreams by enabling the 
     small steps of children to become giant leaps for humanity.
       It is obvious that ``It's one small step for man; one giant 
     leap for mankind'' every day at Aldrin Elementary 
     School.
     

                          ____________________