Guests Include Fellow Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

A public memorial service for astronaut Neil Armstrong is being held at the National Cathedral Thursday morning at 1000 EDT, which will be webcast live.

Representatives from the Cathedral and NASA headquarters will join other national figures in honoring the life of Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died August 25. Special guests and participants include Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, Eugene A. Cernan (the Apollo 17 astronaut who walked last on the moon), NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, and former Treasury Secretary John W. Snow. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of Washington, will deliver a homily. The popular singer-songwriter Diana Krall will perform Frank Sinatra's arrangement of the jazz standard "Fly Me to the Moon."

Washington National Cathedral says it has has a long worked to recognize NASA and space exploration, which have helped to enhance of our sense of the majesty of God's creation. The Cathedral's iconic Space Window was dedicated in the presence of Armstrong who, with fellow Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins presented a moon rock to the Cathedral on July 21, 1974—the fifth anniversary of the day that Armstrong took that historic first step on the moon. (The first steps on the moon occurred at 0256 UTC July 21, 1969, Ed.)

The Space Window ... fully titled the "Scientists and Technicians Window (Space)" ... is part of the Cathedral's iconography, telling stories that have shaped the nation's identity. It is just one example of what makes the Cathedral a historic landmark, symbolizing the role of faith in America.

The National Cathedral news release did not indicate whether the service would be archived for later viewing on demand. The event will also be shown live on NASA television.

(Photo of Space Window provided by the National Cathedral)

FMI: www.nationalcathedral.org, www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html