Saturday, August 25, 2012

Godspeed, Commander Armstrong

armstrongThose of us who are old enough to remember watching this man make history remember that, at the time, there were only 3 networks for TV and they signed off at night.  It is only fitting that we also remember the poem that was read each night.  I can still hear the strong, masculine voice whenever I read the words.

High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up, the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space...
...put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

armstrong (1)

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