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Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. TOM RUHLE wears NASA space suit at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island

Moon Fest at Cradle of Aviation: The Eagle has landed

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
July 30, 2019

During the July 20th Moon Fest Countdown at Cradle of Aviation Museum, visitors filled all three levels of the vast atrium to watch the re-enactment of the Eagle – the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar module – land on the Moon at 4:17 p.m EDT.

Before the Countdown there was a wide variety of activities. My two young grandchildren, who went with their mom, enjoyed building bottle rockets, riding “Moon buggies” outside, and more.

The NY Avengers

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. At right is SAMANTHA CATALANO as Captain Marvel, at left wearing red jacket is DOM CHARLAND as Peter Quill or Star-Lord, and upper right with red hair and green face is EYLIZA MORCIGLIO as Gamora - three Marvel super heroes in The NY Avengers non profit cosplay group, during Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island at time Apollo 11 Lunar Module landed on Moon 50 years ago. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. At right is SAMANTHA CATALANO as Captain Marvel, at left wearing red jacket is DOM CHARLAND as Peter Quill or Star-Lord, and upper right with red hair and green face is EYLIZA MORCIGLIO as Gamora – three Marvel super heroes in The NY Avengers non profit cosplay group, during Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When the NY Avengers, a non profit group of cosplayers, were announced, a large group of visitors gathered at the stage.

There were loud cheers as Peter Quill, or Star Lord, portrayed by DOM CHARLAND, announced the super heroes, including Captain Marvel, portrayed by SAMANTHA CATALANO, who founded the group

Garden City, New York, U.S. July 20, 2019. The NY Avengers non profit cosplay Group, and visitors are on stage during  Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration happening at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island at  time Apollo 11 Lunar Module  landed on the Moon 50 years ago. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. July 20, 2019. The NY Avengers non profit cosplay Group, and visitors are on stage during  Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration happening at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Celebrating Role of Long Islanders in Apollo 11

  • Click photo below to see more officials & Cradle of Aviation Museum family:
Garden City, New York, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, ALAN CONTESSA, Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN, ERNEST FINAMORE, TOM RUHLE (wearing space suit), and visitor SUE MOLLER holding child looking up at astronaut helmet, are at Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. Contessa and Finamore worked for Grumman on Apollo 11 mission. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, ALAN CONTESSA, Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN, ERNEST FINAMORE, TOM RUHLE (wearing space suit), and visitor SUE MOLLER holding child looking up at astronaut helmet, are at Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. Contessa and Finamore worked for Grumman on Apollo 11 mission. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

NASA Space Shuttle Astronauts

Three NASA Space Shuttle Astronauts helped make Moon Fest special:  CHARLIE CAMARKA, BOB CENKER, and BILL SHEPHERD.

After BILL SHEPHERD presented a lecture in the Red Planet Cafe, he autographed JOEY CASABIANCA‘s cast that Joey’s mom decorated with an Apollo 50 design.

  • Click photo below to see Bill Shepherd with Casabianca brothers Joey & Michael:
Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. JOSEPH (JOEY) CASABIANCA, 13, of Wantagh, shows his foot cast signed by Space Shuttle astronaut Bill Shepherd and decorated by Joey's mom with Apollo 50 design, at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. JOSEPH (JOEY) CASABIANCA, 13, of Wantagh, shows his foot cast signed by Space Shuttle astronaut Bill Shepherd and decorated by Joey’s mom with Apollo 50 design, at Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. July 20, 2019. At center, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut BOB CENKER poses with, at left, LUCY DEEGAN, 8, and MEREDITH DEEGAN, both of Swords, a town near Dublin, Ireland, at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. At center, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut BOB CENKER poses with, at left, LUCY DEEGAN, 8, and MEREDITH DEEGAN, both of Swords, a town near Dublin, Ireland, at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut CHARLIE CAMARDA poses with DASHIELL CHEN, 13, at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. Camarda was in a summer program, for middle school STEM students, at Mount San Antonio Community College in California. © 2019 (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut CHARLIE CAMARDA poses with DASHIELL CHEN, 13, at Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Camarda was in a summer program for middle school STEM students, at Mount San Antonio Community College, California. © 2019 (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

CAM

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut BILL SHEPHERD, ADRIANA IACONO, 6, of Franklin Square, and Space Shuttle astronaut CHARLIE CAMARDA, are at the astronaut autographing table, at the Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. L-R, NASA Space Shuttle astronaut BILL SHEPHERD, ADRIANA IACONO, 6, of Franklin Square, and Space Shuttle astronaut CHARLIE CAMARDA, are at the astronaut autographing table, at Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The (1/3 Scale) Eagle Has Landed

Countdown began at 4:00, and 17 minutes later a 1/3-scale replica of the LEM descended from the ceiling and touched down on the ground floor at the same time the Eagle landed on the Moon 50 years earlier. 

  • Click photo below to see model of The Eagle lunar module after it landed:
Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. Visitors look down from high landing on the 3rd floor staircase near the 1/3 scale model of Apollo 11 Lunar Module The Eagle suspended from ceiling and ready to descend at exact time Apollo 11 Lunar Module  landed on the Moon 50 years ago, at Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. Visitors look down from landing on 3rd floor staircase near 1/3 scale model of Apollo 11 Lunar Module The Eagle suspended from ceiling and ready to descend at exact time Apollo 11 Lunar Module  landed on Moon 50 years ago, at Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. July 20, 2019. At top, New York State Senator KEVIN THOMAS poses with children from Westbury who attended Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, held during  same time Apollo 11 Lunar Module landed on the Moon 50 years ago. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 20, 2019. At top, New York State Senator KEVIN THOMAS poses with children from Westbury who attended Moon Fest Apollo at 50 Countdown Celebration at Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, held during  same time Apollo 11 Lunar Module landed on the Moon 50 years ago. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

1960s Room: CBS News Coverage of Moon Landing

A few days later I returned to visit the 1960s style living room with CBS news coverage of the Apollo 11 Moon landing playing on the tube TV with rabbit ear antenna, a neon orange couch and neon green chairs, a Woodstock poster, and Pink Floyd poster with psychedelic art. The dog sleeping in the pet bed was a nice live-in touch. 

Garden City, New York, U.S. July 25, 2019. L-R, father BILL WALSH and mother KATE WALSH of Port Jefferson, and son KEVIN WALSH of Miller Place, sit on sofa in American 60s style living room, while watching CBS Apollo 11 news coverage on a tube TV set, with simulation of July 20, 1969, lunar module Moon Landing. The Cradle of Aviation Museum set was for its recent Apollo 11 Countdown on the 50th Anniversary of man first walking on the moon. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. July 25, 2019. L-R, father BILL WALSH and mother KATE WALSH of Port Jefferson, and son KEVIN WALSH of Miller Place, sit on sofa in American 60s style living room, while watching CBS Apollo 11 news coverage on tube TV set, with simulation of July 20, 1969, lunar module Moon Landing. Cradle of Aviation Museum set was for its Apollo 11 Countdown on 50th Anniversary of Moon Landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

News Photos of Apollo at 50 Anniversary, Cradle of Aviation Museum  

The NY Avengers Instagram: nyavengers

Gotham Geek Girl:  The Avengers of NY Assemble at Cradle-Con

site: Cradle of Aviation Museum

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. On stage are (at lectern) MICHAEL STROMER, JetBlue Chief Product Officer, Techology; and MARC MACDONNELL, Chair, Board of Directors of Cradle of Aviation, as seen from third level of atrium of CAM, during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Grumman F-11A Tiger jet is suspended from ceiling. Astronauts and Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, are seated at tables next to stage.

Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
June 23, 2019

On June 6th, five Apollo Astronauts and two Apollo Flight Directors helped the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NASA’s 1969 Apollo 11 mission, the first time humans walked on the moon. 

  • CLICK on photos below for some surprises
Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. After speaking at lectern on stage, at extreme right, ANDY PARTON, President of Cradle of Aviation Museum, turns to guests sitting behind him, L-R, Apollo 16 Lunar Pilot CHARLIE DUKE, Apollo Flight Director MILT WINDLER, Apollo 9 Lunar Pilot RUSTY SCHWEICKART, Apollo 13 Lunar Pilot FRED HAISE, Apollo 17 Lunar Pilot HARRISON SCHMITT, Apollo Flight Director GERRY GRIFFIN, and Apollo 7 Lunar Pilot WALT CUNNINGHAM, during Cradle of Aviation Museum's Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. After speaking at lectern on stage, at extreme right, ANDY PARTON, President of Cradle of Aviation Museum, turns to guests sitting behind him, L-R, Apollo 16 Lunar Pilot CHARLIE DUKE, Apollo Flight Director MILT WINDLER, Apollo 9 Lunar Pilot RUSTY SCHWEICKART, Apollo 13 Lunar Pilot FRED HAISE, Apollo 17 Lunar Pilot HARRISON SCHMITT, Apollo Flight Director GERRY GRIFFIN, and Apollo 7 Lunar Pilot WALT CUNNINGHAM, during Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Astronaut Press Conference

That day – part of a multi-year series of CAM events leading up to the anniversary on July 20, 2019 – started with a Press Conference featuring many who would be guests at the dinner that night: Apollo astronauts and flight directors, plus Long Islanders who worked for Grumman when it was NASA’s LEM contractor:

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. RUSTY SCHWEICKART, Apollo 9 astronaut is interviewed in front of mural of Apollo 11 launch, during Cradle of Aviation Museum's Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. RUSTY SCHWEICKART, Apollo 9 astronaut, is interviewed in front of mural of Apollo 11 launch, during Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. SAMUEL KOEPPEL, who was Grumman's Technical Editor when Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. won the NASA contract to design and build the Lunar Excusion Module for the Apollo Program, is interviewed during Astronauts Press Conference for Apollo at 50 at Cradle of Aviation Museum, where he is a docent. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. SAMUEL KOEPPEL, who was Grumman’s Technical Editor when Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. won the NASA contract to design and build the Lunar Excusion Module for the Apollo Program, is interviewed during Astronauts Press Conference for Apollo at 50 at Cradle of Aviation Museum, where he is a docent. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Apollo Flight Director GERRY GRIFFIN is interviewed during Cradle of Aviation Museum's Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Apollo Flight Director GERRY GRIFFIN is interviewed during Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, Astronauts CHARLIE DUKE, Apollo 16, and FRED HAISE, Apollo 13, Lunar Module pilots, pose in front of the genuine Grumman Lunar Module 13, built for canceled Apollo 18 mission, during Cradle of Aviation Museum's Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, Astronauts CHARLIE DUKE, Apollo 16, and FRED HAISE, Apollo 13, Lunar Module pilots, pose in front of the genuine Grumman Lunar Module 13, built for canceled Apollo 18 mission, during Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Apollo Astronauts Press Conference during its day of events celebrating 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner

During the cocktail hour, guests could snack, dance to music by the Freeport High School Jazz Band, and take selfies with Apollo astronauts they spotted.

Astronaut Fred Haise was chatting with a couple, whom I later learned were Peter and Kelly Kelly, when I asked if they’d like me to take a photo of them in front of the Apollo 11 moon mural:

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, Apollo 13 astronaut FRED HAISE, PETER KELLY and KELLY KELLY, pose in front of moon landing mural at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. Pete Kelly is youngest of 5 sons of Thomas J. Kelly, who led the design team for the Lunar Module, and is commonly called the Father of the Lunar Module. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, Apollo 13 astronaut FRED HAISE, PETER KELLY and KELLY KELLY, pose in front of moon landing mural at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. Pete Kelly is youngest son of the late Thomas J. Kelly, who led the design team for the Lunar Module, and NASA calls the Father of the Lunar Module. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Days after the event, I realized Peter Kelly was the youngest son of the late Thomas J. Kelly, Long Island’s aerospace engineer who led the design team for the Lunar Module and whom NASA calls the Father of the Lunar Module.

FYI from fLI: Thomas Kelly was born in Brooklyn in 1929, and he was raised in Merrick – where I was born and raised, decades later. One of us graduated valedictorian from Mepham High School, and the other taught there briefly during a long career in Bellmore-Merrick CHSD. 

  • Freeport H.S. Groups

Three student groups from Freeport High School performed at the Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner and Cocktail Hour: FHS Select Chorale singers, FHS Upperclassman Jazz Band musicians, and FHS Navy Junior ROTC cadets.

Garden City, NY, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers perform - with their Director MONIQUE RETZLAFF standing at right, facing them - during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner. FHS Navy Junior ROTC cadets are saluting. Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing was held at Cradle of Aviation Museum.) (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers perform – with their Director MONIQUE RETZLAFF standing at right, facing them – during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner. FHS Navy Junior ROTC cadets are saluting. Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing was held at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, GERRY GRIFFIN, Apollo Flight Director; Apollo 9 astronaut RUSTY SCHWEICKART; Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN; and Apollo 16 astronaut CHARLIE DUKE pose for photo at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. L-R, GERRY GRIFFIN, Apollo Flight Director; Apollo 9 astronaut RUSTY SCHWEICKART; Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN; and Apollo 16 astronaut CHARLIE DUKE pose for photo at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. ANDY PARTON, President of Cradle of Aviation, is speaking on stage, as seen from second level of atrium of Cradle of Aviation Museum, during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. The 5 Apollo Astronauts, 2 Apollo Flight Commanders, and Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN sat at tables next to stage. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Grumman F-11A Tiger jet is suspended from ceiling. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. ANDY PARTON, President of Cradle of Aviation, is speaking on stage, as seen from second level of atrium of Cradle of Aviation Museum, during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. The 5 Apollo Astronauts, 2 Apollo Flight Commanders, and Nassau County Executive LAURA CURRAN sat at tables next to stage. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Grumman F-11A Tiger jet is suspended from ceiling. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Silent Auction

Space memorabilia and space-themed Items donated for the Silent Auction fundraiser were on display in a corridor off the ground floor level of the atrium. Interested bidders didn’t need to be at the anniversary dinner, since bids were placed securely online.

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Colorful print'Just the Beginning' of Neil Armstrong in front of American Flag - signed by its artist Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean - is a Silent Auction fundraiser space memorabilia item on display at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Colorful print ‘Just the Beginning’ of Neil Armstrong in front of American Flag – signed by its artist Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean – is a Silent Auction fundraiser space memorabilia item on display at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Feature Photo at top of post: Garden City, NY, USA. June 10, 2019. On stage are L-R, MICHAEL STROMER, JetBlue Chief Product Officer, Technology and MARC MACDONNELL, Chair, Board of Directors of Cradle of Aviation, as seen from third level of atrium of CAM, during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Grumman F-11A Tiger jet is suspended from ceiling. (© 2019 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

site: Cradle of Aviation Museum

Photos of Apollo at 50 Anniversary, Cradle of Aviation Museum, July 6, 2019:  

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