Life Care residents share their memories of the moon landing
July 20, 2021, marks the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk – the first in human history! We recently asked our residents what they remember about that historic occasion.
“My brother told me about it. We watched it on the television together. It was thrilling but seemed to happen too fast. I remember how official they looked in their uniforms.”
C.O., Life Care Center of Leominster, Massachusetts
“I had met Armstrong the same year he had retired. I was in San Francisco at the time of the moon landing, and I felt absolutely triumphant for the U.S.”
R.C., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“I was watching it on TV after church. We made refreshments. ‘At last we are seeing it happen,’ was my thought. I was very overcome by it. I knew he had it in him.”
B.S., Life Care Center of Centerville, Tennessee
“I was jittery and worried for him. When he landed, I was very excited.”
C.S., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina
“It gave me such a big thrill. I am proud of my country and military. I am glad I live in the GREAT USA!”
A.A., Columbine Manor Care Center in Salida, Colorado
“At home watching TV. Uncle Sam finally did something right, and we got there before the Russians.”
K.N., Hallmark Nursing Center in Denver
“I loved to read science fiction, so I made a point of watching the moon landing on TV. I was thrilled. I was in high school, and I wanted to be a scientist. My family and I were living in a trailer court in Emporia, Kansas. I was impressed and thought there would soon be cities on the moon.”
B.B., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas
“I was working for General Dynamics and married. Had three children by then. I was a pilot for fun and in the Air Force as a weapons officer. Moon landing was interesting.”
J.T., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth
“It was thrilling! I was glad the person in church who stated that the Heavenly Father wouldn’t let that happen was wrong. It strengthened my spiritual belief.”
R.S., Westview Health Care Center in Sheridan, Wyoming
“I was in New York, and I thought it was great. I wanted to go too! I still want to go.”
T.H., University Park Care Center in Pueblo, Colorado
“I was in the Navy on a ship in the middle of the ocean, so we all gathered around and watched it together!”
H.B., Life Care Center of Blount County in Louisville, Tennessee
“I was at work at the time and wasn’t really impressed with it.”
A.B., Life Care Center of Attleboro, Massachusetts
“I was visiting a friend at the hospital. Didn’t know enough about the space program, but I was impressed with the landing.”
F.P. Life Care Center of Red Bank in Chattanooga, Tennessee
“Sitting in the living room with my dad. I was only 12 years old and a little scared because of watching all those horror movies! My dad said, ‘This is going to be OK.’”
D.N., The Highlands in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
“Working and raising two kids. I didn’t believe it happened.”
G.A., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee
“I was with my family and children. We were all very excited and interested. My brother-in-law helped build a moon pod. We had tickets to see the launch but cancelled because of the weather.”
J.M., Life Care Center of Westminster, Colorado
“I was in my driveway with friends washing my 1958 Chevy right before the moon landing. We all went inside my parents’ house and snacked on chips and soda as we watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the moon.”
D.S., Evergreen House Health Center in East Providence, Rhode Island
“I was in the hospital at the time and was very impressed by it all. I said a prayer on his behalf.”
D.M., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“My mum and I watched it together. It was kind of scary for me. I have never seen anything like it. I was wondering how the men must have felt all the way out there by themselves. I wondered if they were warm enough in their suits.”
S.O., Life Care Center of Leominster, Massachusetts
“I was at my parents’ house. They wouldn’t watch it with me. They thought it was insane to land on the moon. When he landed, I went to them all excited and stated, ‘See, he is not crazy – he did it.’”
P.M., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina
“I was a senior in college in Florida. It made a big impression on me. Humans by nature are explorers, so it was a terrific achievement for man and America to land on the moon.”
L.V., Westview Health Care Center in Sheridan, Wyoming
“I thought the moon landing was awesome. I remember being at home glued to the TV screen because my grandma didn’t have a good television screen.”
A.W., Life Care Center of Kennewick, Washington
“I was married by this time. That was an amazing time. At that time of day, I was probably out mowing the lawn.”
B.S., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth
“We watched the first steps on the moon at my house. Our son was almost a year old, and he took his first steps not too long after this.”
R.H., Life Care Center of Blount County in Louisville, Tennessee
“I was at home and thought it was great. I was excited and thought, ‘How could they do that?’”
R.S., Life Care Center of Attleboro, Massachusetts
“My father used to take me to see films of people walking on the moon when I was younger, but I never thought it would ever become a reality.”
M.S., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida
“I was in the school gymnasium. The principal wanted the students to watch, but the teacher didn’t. I was really excited. I thought it was really neat, and I wanted to go to the moon. I could not believe how big the shoes were.”
C.L., Life Care Center of Westminster, Colorado
Comments from residents on the memory unit at Life Care Center of Westlake, Ohio:
“That was a very expensive trip. Yeah, they spent a lot of money on that.”
“I got to see the moon rock at NASA before. It was bright blue.”
When asked if they would travel to the moon:
“No, it’s too far off the ground.”
“Oh, I would love to.”
“But how would you get back?”
