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Astronaut Neil Armstrong to be buried at sea

By Duan Yaying: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, September 7, 2012

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The remains of U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, will be buried at sea as the American hero had wished, family spokesman Rick Miller said on Thursday.

Neil Armstrong with X-15 aircraft. [Photo: Huanqiu.com]

Armstrong was a navy fighter pilot before becoming a NASA astronaut, Miller said.

But the spokesman failed to disclose the exact location for the burial, and said that details are still being worked out.

Armstrong, an Ohio native, passed away on Aug. 25 in Cincinnati at age 82, following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

U.S. President Barack Obama lamented the death of Armstrong, calling him a man "among the greatest of American heroes -- not just of his time, but of all time."

A private funeral service for family, friends and several politicians was conducted for the first man on the moon on August 31 at a golf club in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill.

A public memorial service is scheduled to be held on September 13 at the Washington National Cathedral, with live video coverage streamed on NASA television and online at nasa.gov and nationalcathedral.org.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, active and retired astronauts, VIPs and others in mourning are expected to turn up for next week's memorial.

The Apollo 11 commander could have been buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery as Apollo 12 commander Charles Conrad, also a navy veteran, was in 1999.

But Arlington National Cemetery was not the best choice for Armstrong, who wished to be buried at sea, Miller said.

The family spokesman said that detailed arrangements of the sea burial are supposed to be worked out on the next week's public memorial.

It may take weeks to arrange the sea burial as the U.S. Navy has its own procedures to bury navy veterans. There are several ports available for boarding in Virginia, Florida, California, Washington and Hawaii.

In traditional U.S. navy services for sea burial, a coffin or urn carrying vet remains will be lowered into the sea, or the remains are directly cast into the sea, amid the escort of an honor guard, cannon or gun fire, and resting horns, both of which are regarded as the highest honor for a navy veteran.

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