Neil Armstrong was a true American hero: a small town Ohio boy; an Eagle Scout; a certified pilot as of age 15; an aerospace engineer; a naval aviator who flew combat missions in Korea; a test pilot; a pilot and commander on two Gemini missions; the commander of Apollo 11 and the first man on the Moon.

He slipped the surly bounds of Earth, put out his hand and touched the face of God so many times; once again surrenders to that embrace.