[Barbara Jordan Scrapbook, July - October, 1970] Page: 71 of 104

                                
AUSTIN AMERICAN
OCTOBER 6, 1970
Special Texas Medal

State

To Laud Astronauts

The crew of Apollo
Armstrong, Edwin
Aldrin and Michael
will be decorated

11 - Neal piloted the mother ship in orbit
"Buzz" awaiting  their  return, will
Collins - arrive in Austin separately on
with  a the day of the ceremony.

specially designed Texas Medal
of Valor Oct. 17 in the chamber
of  the   Texas    house   of
Representatives.
The unusual medal was voted
by the Texas Legislature in
1969.
Secretary  of State  Martin
Dies Jr., chairman of the Lunar
Landing Commission created by
the Legislature to design and
make arrangements for
presentation  of  the  medal,
Monday announced final details
for the public program.
The three astronauts, who
made history when Armstrong
and Aldrin walked on the moon

The three will be present but
their arrival times had not been
worked out.
The historic awards ceremony
will begin at 7 p.m.
A representation of the Texas
University Longhorn band will
play a concert starting at 6:30.
The Texas Medal of Valor will
be presented to each of the
astronauts by Governor Preston
Smith, assisted by Lt. Gov. Ben
Barnes and Speaker of the
House Gus Mutscher.
One extra cast of the medal
will be placed in Texas archives
and the original mould will be
destroyed.

Sunday July 20 while Collins  Much has happened since Neil

Armstrong, then 38, stepped on
the dusty surface of the moon at
9:56 p.m. CST on Sunday June
20 and pronounced those first
words that will live forever in
history: "'This is a small step
for man, a    giant leap for
mankind."
"The Texas Legislature voted
the  special medal of valor
because the astronauts of Apollo
11 spent many months at NASA,
near Houston, preparing for
their mission - and in fact'
gave this state a big part in the
historic first," Chairman Dies
reminded   the    Commission
members Monday.
"It is appropriate that the
ceremony  authorized  by  the
legislature be held in the House
chamber, and I have no doubt
that Austin people will pack the

chamber and gallery to add
their appreciation."
The entire ceremony will be
centered at the Capitol.
"It will not be     a  long
ceremony, but it will be an
impressive one," the Secretary
of State said.
Members    of  the    Lunar
Landing    Commission     are
Senators  Chet  Brooks,  H.J.
Blanchard and Barbara Jordan;
Representatives  i Jk-      'g
Tommy Shannon, Clyde Haynes,
Jr.; and public members, Sam
Wood and Jerry Hall.