White House Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Moon Landing

“Forty-five years ago, while the world watched as one, the United States of America set foot on the moon. It was a seminal moment not just in our country’s history, but the history of all humankind,” President Obama said on July 23, as he welcomed the astronauts of Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins and the late Neil Armstrong ’s wife, Carol, to the White House to mark the historic anniversary of the moon landing.
President Obama thanked Aldrin and Collins “as advocates, role models, and educators who’ve inspired generations of Americans – myself included – to dream bigger and reach higher.” And he said, “the United States of America is stronger today thanks to the vision of President Kennedy, who set us on a course for the moon, the courage of Neil, Buzz, and Michael, who made the journey, and the spirit of service of all who’ve worked not only on the Apollo program, but who’ve dared to push the very boundaries of space and scientific discovery for all humankind.”