ACED Magazine

It's funny that this event happened so close to Halloween. I think of the Peanuts gang and Charlie Brown's experience trick-or-treating. All of the other children would get candy, but poor Charlie Brown would sadly report, "I got a rock."

At first, to look at it, it might be tempting to be blasé and think, big deal. Then when you stop and think about all the effort, time, talent and treasure that hundreds of people poured into the NASA program back in 1968, you begin to realize that, yes, it is a big deal.

Twelve men risked it all for a chance to walk on the Moon, some of them, like Walter Cunningham, Walter M. Schirra, and Donn F. Eisele, were lucky enough to bring home a few souvenirs. Years later, we Earthlings, along with some of the former astronauts still alive, reminisce about the momentous adventure.

It is here where my tale begins. The Broward County Main Library was honored by NASA and Susan Eisele-Black, widow of former astronaut, Donn F. Eisele, with a 'piece of the rock' —Moon rock that is.

At least two security guards were around Cindy Schulman, Broward County's Main Library Manager, at all times while she gingerly held the precious prize. Sitting next to her was Donn F. Eisele's grandson, nine year-old Nicholas.

I had the rare opportunity to get a close look at the moon rock before it was housed in its permanent residence—inside a highly secured, Plexiglas display case.

Forever preserved in the Lucite, along with the piece of rock, is the following inscription: "This is a portion of a lunar sample returned by Apollo 15 astronauts who traveled to the moon in July/August 1971."

The plaque accompanying the lunar souvenir in the display case reads: "Ambassadors of Exploration Lunar Sample presented to the Broward County Main Library in memory of Donn F. Eisele on behalf of the National Aeronautical and Space Association and Susan Eisele-Black."

In addition to Susan Eisele, Donn F. Eisele's three children attended the press conference. His daughter, Kristy, and her son, Nicholas, came all the way down from Brooklyn, New York.

Mrs. Eisele's sons, Andrew and John, spoke warmly about their astronaut dad. "When I was a kid," Andrew told me, "I was really into it (the space program), but then as I got older, I wanted to do something opposite... I got into marine biology."

When John was asked whether or not he was interested in following in his father's footsteps, he humorously answered, "You have to join the military, so that immediately ruled it out for me!"

The three children were happy to share their fond memories of their dad. "He was real jovial," John and Andrew said. "A funny guy with a good sense of humor. He enjoyed situation comedies. He really liked comedies."

Considering that Donn Eisele had a reputation for being a prankster, this did not come as a surprise.

Not all of the children were blessed with the same gifted knack for mathematics and science, Andrew revealed. "I was having problems with algebra. He was such a genius; he would get the answer, but couldn't tell me how he got it. I wound up getting a math tutor that year!"

Of the three astronauts from the Apollo 7 mission, only Walter Cunningham remains. He was one of the guest speakers at the press conference along with Susan Eisele-Black. When asked how he felt playing such a major role in the race to space he replied, "We were fortunate enough to have a small role in one of the greatest moments in history."

Talking about the Moon rock, he stated, "I look at it as a symbol of a job well done."

So what does Mr. Cunningham think the future holds for NASA? "NASA is committed to going back to the Moon," he confidently announced. "The Moon and heading to Mars!"

After Mr. Cunningham stepped down from the podium, Mrs. Eisele-Black took her turn. When asked why she decided to donate the rock to the Broward County Main Library, she proudly replied, "I wanted to donate it where people could see it for free."

I asked her what her first response was when she found out that Mr. Eisele was going on a lunar mission. She was quick to clarify, "He became an astronaut in 1963. The flight was in 1968. We were married in 1969, so it was after the flight." Then she humorously joked about the time he asked her to marry him, "He promised me the Moon!"

Donn Eisele's adorable, bright grandson, Nicholas, is a space and technology enthusiast. He talked about his first time seeing a space shuttle launch, eagerly sharing the experience. "I was very happy. At first I was scared. I saw gray smoke and sparks. Then I saw it lift off. It was very loud!"

The event ended all too soon, and while driving home, I gazed at the white, ghostly round figure, dangling freely in the sky—it was not quite dark yet. I just could not look at it the same way.

I had seen a piece of it up close. I got a chance to get up close and personal with something extra-terrestrial! I had the rare opportunity to be in the presence of a very brave and brilliant man, who embodied all of the adjectives that collectively have become associated with what is known as 'the right stuff'.

At the risk of sounding cliché, the chances of ever being in the same room as Josephus Eggelletion, Mayor of Broward County, Susan Eisele-Black, widow of former astronaut Donn F. Eisele, and former astronaut, Walter Cunningham—Mr. Eisele's cohort on the Apollo 7 mission—falls into the Blue Moon category of events. To shake hands with an extraordinary part of world history is something I will not soon forget!

To see the Lunar Sample visit the Broward County Main Library on the 6th floor. For more information go to www.broward.org/library.

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