CINCINNATI (AP) — Lunar pioneers plan to attend a private
service in Ohio for astronaut Neil Armstrong, following an event to
announce a children’s health fund in his honor.
The first man to
walk on the moon died last week at age 82. His family scheduled the
private service Friday in Cincinnati. A public memorial service is being
planned for early September in Washington, D.C.
Eugene Cernan
(SIR’-nun) and James Lovell are expected at the announcement of the Neil
Armstrong New Frontiers Initiative at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Medical Center. The family has suggested memorial contributions be made
to that fund or two scholarships in Armstrong’s name.
Afterward,
the former astronauts and others, NASA officials, family members, and
friends will attend the private service. Republican Sen. Rob Portman of
Ohio will give the eulogy.
Cernan flew two moon missions and is
the last man to have walked on the moon. Lovell’s four space missions
included commanding the harrowing Apollo 13 flight that was recounted in
his book and depicted in the popular movie, in which Tom Hanks played
Lovell.
A complete list hasn’t been released, but other attendees
will include Apollo astronaut William Anders and NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden.
Cincinnati Children’s spokesman Jim Feur said the
hospital is still working out the details for the Armstrong fund. Cernan
and Lovell were to be joined at the hospital by patient Shane
DiGiovanna, 14. He has a rare tissue disease and received a cochlear
implant that allows him to hear. The cochlear device was developed by a
NASA scientist.
Armstrong’s family described Armstrong, who largely shunned publicity after his moon
mission, as "a reluctant American hero."
Raised
in rural western Ohio in Wapakoneta, he developed an early love for
aviation. He served as a U.S. Navy pilot flying combat missions in
Korea, then became a test pilot after finishing college. Accepted into
NASA’s second astronaut class in 1962, he commanded the Gemini 8 mission
in 1966.
He then commanded Apollo 11’s historic moon landing on
July 20, 1969. As a worldwide audience watched on TV, Armstrong took the
step on the lunar surface he called "one giant leap for mankind."
After
his space career, he returned to Ohio, teaching aerospace engineering
at the University of Cincinnati and generally avoiding public view for
most of the rest of his life.
Armstrong married Carol Knight in 1999, and the couple lived in suburban Indian Hill.
He had two sons from a previous marriage.
Two
UC student groups interested in space will gather Friday evening on a
campus lawn with telescopes for viewing the moon, and to hear some of
Armstrong’s former students speak.
In announcing his death,
Armstrong’s family requested that when people "see the moon smiling down
at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."
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Contact Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.