[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2009

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution (H. Res. 607) 
honoring the tremendous achievement of the crew of Apollo 11 and the 
thousands who labored for nearly a decade to lay the groundwork for the 
first human landing on the surface of the Moon.
  Today marks the 40th anniversary of this historic flight that 
challenged and changed America. In Dayton, Ohio--the Birthplace of 
Aviation--the Wright Brothers set the process of human flight in 
motion. Today, Dayton is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the 
U.S. Air Force Museum, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF). 
The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization founded 
in Dayton in 1962 and chartered by Congress in 1964 to honor America's 
outstanding air and space pioneers.
  I congratulate the Apollo 11 crew on their magnificent accomplishment 
of being the first to land successfully on the Moon. Dayton welcomed 
the Apollo astronauts this past weekend during two days of special 
events spotlighting their service. On July 17, all of the Apollo 
astronauts, including the Apollo 11 crew, were honored by the National 
Aviation Hall of Fame with the ``Spirit of Flight'' Award for their 
contributions to the advancement of flight. Thirteen of the original 
Apollo program astronauts attended the event held in the U.S. Air Force 
Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB Friday night, including Ohio native Neil 
Armstrong. The former Apollo crewmen also participated in a panel 
discussion about their experiences in space.
  Dayton was also pleased to host on July 18 ``America's Oscar Night of 
Aviation'' as the National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrined four 
aviation legends. Those honored included astronaut Edward White, II, 
who made America's first spacewalk on the Gemini IV mission. White lost 
his life in a flash fire that occurred during an Apollo 1 launch pad 
test at the Kennedy Space Center.
  Also inducted into the 2009 Class of the National Aviation Hall of 
Fame was astronaut Eileen Collins, the Air Force's first female flight 
instructor and the first female Space Shuttle commander.
  From the Wright Brothers, to the Apollo program crews, to our Shuttle 
astronauts, America should pause to reflect upon the bravery, sacrifice 
and service of our aviation pioneers. They have inspired us not only to 
reach higher, but also to dream that anything is possible.

                          ____________________