A Message from Buzz Aldrin to our Troops On Thanksgiving Weekend

I am fortunate to be in touch with Buzz Aldrin, the pilot of Eagle One. He and Neil Armstrong were the first men on the moon. I asked Buzz if he would send a message to our troops. He sent me this e-mail which I have forwarded throughout Iraq and Kuwait through our public affairs officers. This is his email:

"Delivered though Dan Rice, Captain, US Army, 42nd Rainbow Division

On this Thanksgiving Weekend all of us souls who have voluntarily taken on obligations to serve our fellow countrymen can be most thankful that our country stands as such an inspiration to humans everywhere because of the freedom, liberty and morality earned by the sacrifices of those who came before us.

Stand proud as an example in foreign lands with the understanding that all of us back home wish you Peace Everlasting!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Buzz Aldrin
Eagle Pilot, Apollo Eleven"

Just as a bit of trivia, this weekend is the Army-Navy Game. Of the three astronauts on Apollo 11, two had graduated from a military academy. Both were West Point graduates. So Army beat Navy to the moon! (This only refers to the West Point-Annapolis rivalry- Neil Armstrong was actually a Navy pilot but had graduated from Purdue University not the Naval Academy.)

Buzz Aldrin is a 1951 USMA graduate. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/aldrin-b.html
Michael Collins is a 1952 USMA graduate. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/collins-m.html