This blog is based on passages first published in 2004 in my book Visions of America (published together with my book Visions of the Church), at pages 122-123, 137-139.

Apollo 11 gave us a new vision for the future.

When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, it left a plaque that said:

     “We came in peace for all mankind.”

As Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the Moon, a television camera beamed the moment back to hundreds of millions of people. Neil Armstrong told Humanity that he was making “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

At that moment, the Earth became far more than Apollo 8’s vision of a fragile blue and white oasis, hanging alone in the darkness. The Earth became the lively, colorful cradle for a civilization that will span the heavens.

After Buzz Aldrin joined Neil Armstrong, the astronauts raised the Star-Spangled Banner and planted it on the Moon’s surface.

The President called from the Oval Office in the White House to share his awe that: “For one priceless moment, in the whole history of [Humanity], all the people on this earth are truly one.”

Armstrong replied that it was a great honor and privilege to be on the Moon, “representing not only the United States but [people] of peace of all nations . . . [people] with a vision for the future.”

In Apollo 11’s vision for the future, Americans will no longer have to raise the Star-Spangled Banner after killing people in battle—as the Marines did in World War II.

In Apollo 11’s vision for the future, Americans will raise the Star-Spangled Banner as they make giant leaps to reach New Frontiers.

In Apollo 11’s vision for the future, Americans will raise the Star-Spangled Banner as they set people free from Humanity’s ancient foes: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

In Apollo 11’s vision for the future, Americans will raise the Star-Spangled Banner as they come in peace for all mankind—for all Humanity.

In Apollo 11’s vision for the future, Americans will raise the Star-Spangled Banner as they establish a civilization that spans the heavens—a civilization that is good, that is very good.

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President John F. Kennedy was known for challenging Americans to go to the Moon and to explore all kinds of New Frontiers, overcoming Humanity’s ancient foes: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. See my book Visions of America (published together with my book Visions of the Church), at pages 122-123.

To read more about Americans raising the Star-Spangled Banner, please read my blog “Raising the Star-Spangled Banner—FDR and Churchill”.