[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 IN CELEBRATION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING 
AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ABOARD THE U.S.S. HORNET MUSEUM IN ALAMEDA, 
                                   CA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

  Mr. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the 30th anniversary 
of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong, 
Edwin ``Buzz'' Aldrin and Michael Collins. This milestone will be 
commemorated aboard the U.S.S. Hornet Museum with a nine-day festival, 
called ``Moonfest 1999.''
  Moonfest 1999 is an event blending history, education and family 
entertainment together in celebration of one of the greatest 
achievements of the 20th Century. The festival will include an airshow, 
lectures, exhibits, moon and star gazing parties, a film series, 
receptions and youth activities beginning on Friday, July 16th and 
concluding on Saturday, July 24th, 1999.
  The dates of the festival have special meaning because July 16, 1969, 
is the date the Apollo 11 crew departed from earth, landing on the moon 
on July 20th, and recovered safely by the aircraft carrier U.S.S. 
Hornet in the Pacific Ocean on July 24th.
  Planning for the first human landing on the moon began in April 1957 
and in July 1960, NASA named the program ``Project Apollo'' with five 
goals: (1) to land American explorers on the Moon and return them 
safely to Earth; (2) to establish the technology required to meet other 
national interests in space; (3) to achieve for the United States 
preeminence in space; (4) to carry out a program of scientific 
exploration of the Moon; and (5) to develop human kind's capability to 
work in the lunar environment. With Apollo 11's mission, these goals 
were met.
  On the morning of July 24, 1969, the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Hornet, 
as the Primary Recovery Carrier, successfully recovered the Apollo 11 
astronauts. On board the Hornet to welcome the astronauts back was the 
President of the United States, NASA personnel, distinguished guests 
and the Hornet's crew.
  This historic landing, and the many that followed, was achieved in 
large part by the dedication and creatively of several California 
aerospace corporations and their subcontractors, as well as citizens, 
universities and government agencies of the State of California.
  I proudly join citizens throughout the world in celebrating the 30th 
anniversary of the monumental achievement of the first lunar landing. I 
also want to thank the U.S.S. Hornet, her crew and all of the people 
involved with the Apollo Program for successfully bringing the Apollo 
11 crew home safely. I am excited and


honored to join in this celebration and encourage all to participate in 
the Moonfest 1999 activities.

                          ____________________