[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5916-H5917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this week America celebrates the 
50th anniversary of one of mankind's--and America's--greatest 
achievements: walking on the surface of the Moon.
  Although then only a child, I well remember the earth shake and the 
dishes in our kitchen cabinets rattle as the Saturn V engines were 
tested nearby. Even now, 50 years after the Moon landing, I get chills 
remembering when Apollo astronauts landed and later planted the 
American flag on the Moon's surface.
  It was American ingenuity, boldness, technical prowess, and economic 
might that made this historic achievement possible.
  I am proud to say the legacy of the Apollo 11 Moon landing lives on 
in the Tennessee Valley of Alabama that I represent. Some history is in 
order:
  The Tennessee Valley's Marshall Space Flight Center is the birthplace 
of America's space program. Americans generally, and Alabamians in 
particular, designed and engineered the Saturn V rocket that launched 
the historic Apollo 11 and took American astronauts to the Moon.
  I will never forget the flames and the roar as our Saturn V rocket 
was launched and carried the Apollo 11 crew in vehicles to the Moon. I 
remember with tremendous pride Neil Armstrong's words as he set foot on 
the Moon: ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for 
mankind.''
  That giant leap meant to benefit all mankind is a prime example of 
American exceptionalism and helped cement America's status as the best, 
most powerful and most influential nation in world history.
  When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted America's flag on the 
Moon surface on July 20, 1969, there was no doubt that America's space 
program had passed the Russians and become the preeminent leader in 
space exploration, a position America maintains today.
  This week, America not only reflects on the miraculous achievements 
of the Apollo 11 mission, but we also honor those who played a critical 
role in its ultimate success. The Tennessee Valley is immensely proud 
of our pivotal role in landing a man on the Moon and, equally 
importantly, returning them alive to Earth.
  Reflecting our pride in America's achievement, there are two--that 
is, two--Saturn V rockets displayed at the United States Space and 
Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

                              {time}  1015

  These Saturn V displays help inspire the next generation to reach for 
the stars and achieve what now may be thought impossible.
  While it is important to remember the historic achievements of the 
Apollo missions, it is also important to honor those who sacrificed 
their lives in the effort to achieve American greatness.
  In that vein, Huntsville has named schools after Apollo Command Pilot 
Virgil ``Gus'' Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger Chaffee, 
each of

[[Page H5917]]

whom died in a capsule fire during an Apollo 1 ground test.
  After the Moon landing and return of Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz 
Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins to Earth on July 24, 1969, 
Huntsville's streets were awash with revelers.
  German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun said on the Huntsville 
courthouse steps that day: ``My friends, there was dancing here in the 
streets of Huntsville when our first satellite orbited the Earth, and 
there was dancing again when the first Americans landed on the Moon. 
I'd like to ask you: Don't hang up your dancing slippers.''
  Von Braun's words remind us that mankind's greatest achievements are 
yet to come, that America will continue to accomplish the unimaginable 
in space for the benefit of all humanity.
  As we reach for the stars, I have confidence that the Tennessee 
Valley, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Huntsville, where we say, 
``The sky is not the limit,'' will be instrumental in carrying American 
astronauts back to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond.

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