The Township of Montclair celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing Saturday at the Montclair Public Library.
Families climbed aboard an Apollo 11 spacecraft replica courtesy of Rags Buchner who heads up Boy Scout Troop 40 in Rahway, stationed outside the library, while inside, Yin Chang, co-founder of L3 Academy provided a robotics demonstration.
Mayor Robert Jackson read a proclamation in recognition of astronaut Buzz Aldrin and the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.
“In the history of the world, only 12 people walked on that little orb up there, and one of them came from Montclair,” said Jackson.
Montclair Library trustee Ilmar Vanderer served as master of ceremonies. Speakers included journalist Jonathan Alter who discussed the legacy and importance of Buzz Aldrin to Montclair. Major Jennings, Buzz Aldrin Middle School Assistant Principal, talked about how the middle school was focused on inspiring and producing a new generation of scientists and space explorers. Katie Rubacky Severance, founder of the Man on the Moon Committee, discussed what inspired her to lead the committee in its successful effort to rename Mount Hebron Middle School.