posted 08-06-2011 12:25 PM               

U.S. Postal Service public relations officers had asked astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., to accompany cancellation of lunar landing commemorative stamp on moon during Apo11o 11 mission with dialogue from two "casual, conversational" scripts, Julian W. Scheer, former NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs, said in Washington Post article. But NASA, figuring the first manned lunar landing was hairy enough without ceremonials, declined politely and, instead, Armstrong and Aldrin quietly canceled the first moon stamp and came home without postal fanfare.

While we have not cast the roles and read the script aloud, timer in hand, it is our definite impression that this spontaneous little exchange might have been good for the better part of one orbit of the moon and good also for a veritable barrage of phone calls from a flabbergasted public.