Lunar landing: Hal Gilbert

Hal Gilbert, 50, of Glen Head, was a 10-year-old boy living in Jericho. He is now a financial services executive.

I was 10 going on 11. It [the moon landing] was certainly a big deal. I don't think I was unique in that regard, as far as kids my age. It had been anticipated for so long. It had been talked about in science class. I had books, rockets, models, lunar landers, all the things surrounding the landing on the moon.

I believe the actual first step on the moon took place in the evening. I just remember literally watching TV that whole day. . . . I remember at some point earlier in that day somebody said something about how you can take a picture with a Polaroid of the TV. . . . I think it involved the lights in the room being off, that type of thing. . . . That's how I set up the shot. . . . The TV picture itself at the time wasn't very clear. . . . I have a scan of the picture. It's sort of like a sonogram now. You can sort of make out the steps coming down from the lunar module. Looking at the picture now I can't honestly say I can see Neil Armstrong's image. There is a little message that came on the screen that says 'First step on the moon.' So I know I got it at the right moment.

It was really one of those moments where people were in awe. . . . It was known that we were in a race with the Soviet Union. The idea of beating them was a source of national pride. . . . The scientific aspect of this was huge, and what it might reveal and what we might learn about the universe and space.