It was 50 years ago today that folks here in the Twin Cities, across our nation and around the world were glued to their television sets, watching history being made.
U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were walking on the moon.
It was on Sept. 12, 1962, that President John F. Kennedy set the course for the future.
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard ," he said.
The challenge was there. The goal was clear. And our nation embraced it.
On July 20, 1969, that challenge was met. It was an incredible accomplishment, a source of national pride, and inspiration for generations.
We look back on that day, remembering that despite a deep divide in our society over the war in Vietnam, we came together as one nation to celebrate a common achievement. To marvel at a magnificent accomplishment.
While we recall the past, we must also look to the future. There is so much more our country can accomplish with leadership, vision and shared determination-if we look to something bigger than our own narrow political and social concerns and if we put what's best for our nation and our future generations first.
Can we do something so great again? Are we still up to the task? Do we have the will to come together?
We can only hope. But in our view, it would be a shame to look back 50 years from now and not be able to point to another great example of American exceptionalism.