Astronaut 'Buzz' Aldrin Speaks at Oak Knoll in Summit

The Oak Knoll community was over the moon when Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, the second man to ever walk on the moon, visited campus on Thursday, Feb. 28.

Aldrin, who followed Neil Armstrong's footsteps onto the moon on July 20, 1969, spoke to students in grades 3-12 about the history of space flight and the endless possibilities before them.

"You can never truly tell what you're going to stand on," Aldrin, a native of New Jersey and graduate of Montclair High School, said. "But you're standing on the shoulders of those who came before you."

Aldrin, 83, detailed the history of space flight and said that in the span of just 66 years, the world saw the Wright brothers fly the first airplane and man walk on the moon. In the next 30 or 40 years, Aldrin said we could see the settlement of Mars.

"You have a wonderful future in store for you," Aldrin said. "All of you should be proud of the education you're getting here."

Aldrin, who ended his speech with a rousing chant of "USA," is not only a former astronaut, he is also a veteran of the Korean War and he holds a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in astronautics.

Student Body President Hayley Shaffer '13 welcomed Aldrin to Oak Knoll, where she said we pride ourselves on being challenged inside and outside of the classroom.

"It is every student's dream to then be able to apply what is learned in school and actually test those boundaries that were once only theory," she said. "You certainly transcend the boundaries of science and accomplished what some might have once deemed impossible."

Head of School Timothy J. Saburn recalled looking up at the moon on the night Apollo XI landed.

"Who knows what you will see in your lifetime," he said to the students, "because we sure didn't ever think we'd see a man walk on the moon."

Aldrin's visit was made possible by current parent and member of the Board of Trustees Dr. Robert Hariri, a close friend and colleague of the astronaut's.

"He has had a tremendous impact on my life," Dr. Hariri said. "He is a true American hero."

Before speaking in Campion Center, Aldrin met with Lower School students in kindergarten through grade 2 in Grace Hall Chapel. Kindergartner Grant Parker’s grandfather Gordon Parker was part of the team at Kennedy Space Center that launched the first lunar module – with Buzz Aldrin on it. Lower School Principal Joanne Ainsworth read Aldrin Grant's grandfather's certificate of participation in the Apollo XI mission which Aldrin signed after the mission's completion.

"Thank you for taking the time to further our education and for setting an example of how to be unwaveringly determined, unapologetically inquisitive, always curious, and most importantly, brave in whatever we choose to do," Shaffer said. "You are a true inspiration."

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child is an independent Catholic school enrolling boys and girls in kindergarten through grade six; and young women only in grades seven through 12.  For more information about Oak Knoll and this strategic tuition initiative, please visit www.oakknoll.org or call 908-522-8109.

Editor's Note: This information was submitted to Summit Patch by Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.