World Scouting salutes Neil Armstrong
World Scouting has been greatly saddened to learn of the passing away of Neil Armstrong, considered to be one of the United States' most famous Eagle Scouts. Mr. Armstrong will always be remembered for his role as Crew Commander of the successful Apollo 11 moon landing mission of 1969 and the first man to stand on the surface of the moon.
Amongst the treasured items that Neil Armstrong carried with him to the moon and back was a World Scout Badge. The citation, printed on NASA letterhead paper and personally signed, reads, "I certify that this World Scout Badge was carried to the moon on man's first lunar landing, Apollo XI, July 20, 1969."
Paying tribute to one of his heroes, Luc Panissod, Secretary General, said, "I pass this unique memento on my way into my office each day. It reminds me how real achievement is very often the result of a truly great team effort. As one might expect of an Eagle Scout, Neil Armstrong was always modest about his personal leadership role on that famous mission and the first to acknowledge the scores of people who contributed in so many ways to making it happen. He will always be an inspiration to ourselves and future generations of Scouts worldwide."