"One small step for man, one giant step for mankind”....Never have words truly meant so much

By: Cole Buergi, VP of Business Development, Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.

We lost a true American hero with the death of NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong on Saturday. I wasn’t born yet when he took the very first steps on the moon but his accomplishments and those at NASA have made a lasting impact on every American and on the entire world.

Those first steps catapulted America past Russia in the leadership role for space exploration and gave Americans a renewed since of pride in our ability to accomplish the impossible. It helped spark a revolution in America in which we, and our partner countries, seek to learn more about space, look for other planets that may sustain life and fulfill our curiosities about what’s in the universe. Is there life out there?

I’ve been lucky enough to grow up and see the space shuttle missions and was always amazed each and every time the space shuttle took off and returned from a mission. I had the privilege of watching a night launch of the space shuttle in the early 1990s and it’s still one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever witnessed.

I also vividly remember the tragedies of the Challenger and Columbia missions and wondered how America would react to the loss.

Even in its darkest moments, NASA continued to dream and we are moving forward. The recent landing of a new rover on Mars is a testament to the early pioneers of space exploration and our drive to never give up. And although Armstrong would have preferred it be a person and not a machine exploring Mars, it still is another step forward for all Americans.

We owe Armstrong, and all of NASA from his era, a great debt of gratitude for helping to spark so much interest in the stars and beyond.

Thank you for daring to dream and I hope you rest in peace among the stars.