Impressive assemblage of items related to the historic launch of the Apollo 11 mission, all of which derive from the collection of Alfred and Carolyn (Shearon) Trude, the latter of whom was the sister of Neil Armstrong’s first wife, Janet Shearon. A highlight is a quick handwritten letter from Alfred, Armstrong's brother-in-law, who signs with his nickname ‘Bud’ and writes to his coworkers on the day of the launch: “It has been fabulous so far. The tour yesterday was really great. We were even able to talk with Neil yesterday at the crew quarters. We are now in the bleachers about 3 miles from the pad waiting for the countdown. We arrived at 6:00 AM and the pad was brightly illuminated with spotlights. It was quite a sight.”
The collection also includes: an Apollo 11 launch pass, number ‘3295’; an Apollo 11 launch invitation; a NASA MSC MCC-Houston Viewing Room badge for the Apollo 11 moon landing, issued to “Mrs. C. Trude”; an Apollo 11 Birdwatcher eyewitness launch card, numbered ‘01130,’ issued to “Alfred S. Trude, Jr.”; an embroidered 3″ Apollo 11 ‘Bird Watcher’ patch; a bronze-tone 1.5″ commemorative medallion; a gold-tone 1.25″ commemorative pendant; and a “Welcome Apollo 11 Dignitarues” package issued by South Brevard County, which contains two NASA lithographs of the crew in their white space suits, two unissued “Apollo 11 Observer” certificates, a greetings letter from the South Brevard chamber of commerce, a map of ‘Apollo 11 Guest Centers,’ and a NASA booklet entitled ‘In This Decade…’ Mission to the Moon. In overall fine condition, with some light wear, and a crease to the ‘Viewing Room’ badge.
