Happy Moon Day – July 20th
Happy Moon Day!
Today is the anniversary of the first moon landing, July 20, 1969. Did you know that an Estonian flag was flown to the moon thanks to the NASA astronauts?
We know this because the Archive received a copy of the letter from Senator Charles H. Percy to Mr Pleer, American Estonian council. which informed us that the Estonian flag had been taken to the Moon by the crew of Apollo XVI in 1972. The letter was even signed by the crew: Commander John Young, Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke and Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly.
The letter says:
March 21, 1972
Mr. Ilmar Pleer, President
Estonian American National Council
243 East 34 Street
New York, N.Y. 10016Dear Mr. Pleer
The Department of Date has assured me that the flags of free Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, among others, will be implanted on the moon during the flight of Apollo XVI in May of this year.
I wanted you to know that this decision has been made
Sincerely yours,
Charles H. Percy
United State Senator”
CHARLES H. PERCY ILLINOIS
“Carried with pleasure” signed John Young, Charles Duke and Ken Mattingly, APOLLO XVI Crew, June 8,1972.
This letter is part of the eclectic mix of weird and wonderful items held by the Estonian Archives in Australia.
Happy Moon Day!
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