NASA To Honor Neil Armstrong At National Cathedral

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Sep 04, 2012, 06:20 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other dignitaries will attend a public memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral to honor the life and career of astronaut Neil Armstrong on Thursday, Sept. 13. The memorial will be broadcast live on NASA Television and streamed online by the agency's and National Cathedral's websites.

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The service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT at the historic cathedral, which is known as the spiritual home for the nation. Dignitaries, community and political leaders, members of the Armstrong family and members of the NASA family, including current and former astronauts, will pay respects to the first man to walk on the moon, who died Aug. 25.

News media wishing to cover the memorial service must contact Meredith MacKenzie at [email protected] by Tuesday, Sept. 11, to receive credentials to cover this service. Space is limited.

A very limited number of seats will be made available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in attending must contact Christine Peterson at: [email protected]. Details regarding the service and participants will be released as plans are finalized.

Washington National Cathedral is a historic landmark symbolizing the role of faith in America, and its iconography tells the stories that have shaped the nation's identity. Armstrong, along with fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, presented the National Cathedral with a moon rock brought back during their Apollo 11 mission. The presentation took place in a July 21, 1974 service commemorating the fifth anniversary of the first lunar landing. The iconic Space Window that later would display the sliver of lunar rock also was dedicated at that service.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For additional information about Armstrong and his career, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

To learn more about the Washington National Cathedral, visit:

http://www.nationalcathedral.org

SOURCE NASA