Apollo 11 Went Back to Where They Came From: the Earth

Go Back to Where you Came From. The earth!  July 24, 1969, was the day the Apollo 11 crew returned to “where they came from”: the Earth. One day later, July 25, 1969, our son, Kirk Andrew, was born. Each of our children has a “birth story.” 

News media have covered extensively the anniversary of the moon landing; however the picture the astronauts took which remains a favorite is their view from the moon of the earth.  They saw the amazing beauty and knew, of course, the complicated issues on our planet.

The 50^th anniversary week’s coverage was almost overshadowed by the exclusionary words of the president of one nation on this planet to four of its citizens, saying that they should go back to where they came from.  No matter that they are citizens of the same nation as he.  Where should they go? From the moon, the astronauts could see no national boundaries. On July 24 the world celebrates the men’s return to the whole earth. 

 Our family this July 25^th lovingly celebrates our youngest son’s 50^th birthday. May the citizens of the earth celebrate the family of nations and love one another.  May we not try to rid ourselves of those we disdain, but give ourselves to each other, seeking justice and each other’s welfare, that the beautiful sphere seen from the moon might truly hold the beauty the astronauts beheld.