43 years ago, millions watched and heard reports of Apollo 11 landing on the lunar surface.

It was the ultimate reality show — this TV spectacular was one of a kind.

Millions of people were glued to their television sets on July 20, 1969 to watch two adventurous men as they debuted the art of “moonwalking.”

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans ever to set foot on the Moon. It was an event that captured the world’s imagination and inspired a generation of scientists and researchers.

Today, July 20^th, marks the 43rd anniversary of that historic achievement. Some of us are old enough to remember the moon landing in vivid detail.  Do you also remember what you were doing at the time?

I remember in great detail when Neil Armstrong set his foot on the lunar surface. My husband and I were in Fulda, Germany and my husband was a member of the Army Band. We didn’t have a TV or even a radio in our apartment so we got in our VW Bug and drove to the post. When we arrived at the music building, we just sat in the car as we listened to Armed Forces Radio as it reported each step and milestone. When we finally knew the men were safe, we stopped the engine and joined our colleagues for a celebratory dinner and great conversation.

Where were you and what were you doing??

Share your memories with us about this spectacular moment. It’s a special moment in history.

WAIT A MINUTE!! Isn’t this a Clay Aiken blog?? Absolutely!! However, I would bet that Clay has asked his friends and relatives to share their experiences with him. From what I have read, Clay is interested in history and would probably enjoy our historical memories.

I hope you will share your recollections with us. Each story is important!!

July 20th is famous for another important anniversary.  The Special Olympics movement got its start on  July 20th, 1968, when the First International Special Olympics Games were held at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, USA. But the concept of Special Olympics was born much earlier, when founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities at her home in 1962.

Today, the Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries. Alternating between summer and winter, the Special Olympics World Games are held every two years. Often the Games are the largest sporting event to take place in the World that year. There are also local, national, and regional competitions in over 175 countries worldwide.

The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

I have  been thinking of  the word hero. I wonder how many times we will hear “hero” this summer as the Games of the XXX Olympiad open on July 27 in London. We will celebrate athletes who are faster, stronger, and who can jump higher than all the others. They will be called  heroes.

The motto of the Special Olympics is, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”   Somehow, I think I will save the word HERO for each participant in the Special Olympics.  Each athlete and volunteer deserves that title.

I am so excited that The National Inclusion Project will be honoring two people who are involved in The Special Olympics.  At their upcoming Champions Gala on October 20, 2012, the Project will honor Loretta Claiborne. Loretta is a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability.  Steve Eidelman will also be honored at the Gala.   Steve is a past President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and is Senior Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics International.  

Have you bought your tickets to the Gala yet?  The evening will be amazing!