Rest in Peace, My Hero, Neil

Like many, I was very sad to hear about the passing of Neil Armstrong today. He was a tremendous figure in history, but more importantly, a tremendous person whose duty and dedication to his country surpassed all else. To sci-fi geeks like me, he meant more to than even that. He was a symbol for what we could achieve if we worked hard enough. We could look up at the sky and see his triumph, one small step for man, as something to strive for. While we dreamed, someone was really doing it. And maybe someday we could too.

I grew up seeing a generation inspired by Neil and his words. They wrote of space travel and new worlds. I saw technology he and others used become the basis for modern life. But, more importantly, I saw his message and hope for mankind live on. I will admit I cried. But, I am also glad that such a person as Neil Armstrong was alive to change the world. Men and women like him, not the buildings, monuments, or even documents are what truly embodies America.