I particularly look forward to reading the Saturday editorial page of the Rome News-Tribune. One of my favorite writers, Lee Walburn, usually starts the day with humorous anecdotes. A recent column of his jogged my memory back to one of the most exciting times in history.

At 10:56 p.m. EDT on Sunday July 20, 1969, Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, spacecraft commander of Apollo 11, set foot on the moon.

I was news director at radio station WGTA in Summerville at that time. In getting interviews with local people to hear their reactions to the landing, I learned some people never believed they landed on the moon. It was beyond their comprehension.

The custodian for the courthouse, Roosevelt Young, was a well-liked individualist. When I asked him what he thought about the moon landing, he said, “If the Lord had wanted us to go there, he would have hung it lower.”

The late Congressman John W. Davis was from Chattooga County. He served on the Science and Astronautics Committee. After the landing, he arranged for the astronauts of Apollo 17, the last astronauts landing on the moon, to come to Marietta and Rome.

Charles Graves of Rome, who was on Congressman Davis’ staff had the privilege of bringing them. A parade was held for them in Marietta, and they attended the Coosa Valley Fair in Rome.

Charles stated “They were fun guys to spend a couple of days with. Schmitt was more reserved, but the other two were outgoing.”

I was invited to meet and interview those astronauts — Spacecraft Commander Gene Ceman, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison “Jack” Schmitt and Commander Module Pilot Ron Evans — accompanied by Charles, at the Holiday Inn in Rome. It was a lively conversation!

To say the least, that was the highlight of my reporting days.

The following are excerpts from the information sent to me by the astronauts upon their return to NASA:

Ronald E. Evans, born Nov. 10, 1933, died April 6, 1990, in Scottsdale, Ariz., of a heart attack. On his first journey into space, Captain Evans occupied the command module pilot seat for Apollo 17, which commenced at 11:33 p.m. CST Dec. 6, 1972, and concluded Dec. 19, 1972. Evans retired from NASA in March 1977 to become a coal industry executive.

Eugene Andrew Ceman, born March 14, 1934, has been into space three times — as pilot of Gemini 9A in June 1966; as lunar module pilot of Apollo 10 in May, 1969; and as commander of Apollo 17 in December 1972. Cernan is one of only three humans to voyage the Moon on two different occasions.

Harrison Schmitt, born July 3, 1935, is an American geologist, a retired NASA astronaut, university professor, and former U. S. Senator, from Santa, Rita, New Mexico, In January, 1977, Schmitt began a six-year term as Senator. He was the twelfth and last man to walk on the Moon.

While Spacecraft Commander Gene Cernan and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, drove and loped over the surface, Commander Module Pilot Ron Evans carried out experiments and photography assignments in orbit.

As the Moon seem to shrink behind the home-bound Americans, Ceman said “It (Apollo) has been a beginning. I don’t think there ever will be an end, not as long as man is alive and willing.”

Q: In space flight so far, have you seen UFOs?

A: Some unidentified objects have been seen, but most later were proven or surmised to be such prosaic items as water droplets, material from the spacecraft or launch vehicle, or man-made satellites. Wally Schirra did report a UFO during his December 1965 flight of Gemini 6, but that turned out to be Santa Claus. No “flying saucer” has been sighted.

Regretfully the tasks accomplished on this mission are too numerous to cover in this, but the highly talented and educated men who risked their lives for this venture are certainly to be commended… along with their back-up organizations and crews whose superior intelligence, money and abilities allow these missions to be accomplished.

When I look at the moon, I stare in wonder that some people have actually walked on it and that, thanks to Congressman John W. Davis’ being my representative and my being in radio, I got to meet and talk with those fellows.

Louise McCollum of Gore writes an occasional column for the Rome News-Tribune.