Lunar landing: Christine Zuk

Christine Zuk,53, of Bellmore, is a registered nurse. She was 13 in 1969, living with her family in Wantagh. Her father, Walter Karl Ziegler, of Vienna, Austria, was a rocket scientist, aerospace and civil engineer who worked on the lunar module project. He died in 2001.

We didn't come to Long Island until 1965, when [my dad] came to Grumman because Grumman called for him [recruiting him from Boeing].

Well, that day [of the moon landing], it was me, my dad, my mother [Therese] and my younger sister. We were watching TV like the whole day, the whole day. Late at night, I remember [Neil Armstrong] stepping out and coming out on the ground to the moon. I remember the flag being placed. And my dad and my mom, they had a glass of Champagne. I'll never forget that. They toasted, and my dad, he was like almost in tears. He just says, "Wow, it made it." I remember him saying that. He actually said, with his German accent, "Yah, Therese, it made it."

I was proud. I remember I was in the eighth grade when this whole moon landing happened. Everybody knew - of course I had to let them know - my dad was involved in this, heavily involved. It was just a big thing in school. It was summertime when it happened, but we were talking about it before school ended. [My parents] were hugging each other. . . . I was happy for them. I was real happy for my dad. I know how much this meant to him. He was just real proud of his work. . . . My mom always stood behind my dad. She always supported what he did. I will not forget them toasting those glasses of Champagne. . . . I can still feel the emotions.