Where were you in August 1969

I used the camera to photograph pictures of the Apollo 11 moon landing off our Black and white 19" TV. That was before VCRs.

When the astronauts returned to earth, each one went to his hometown for a ticker tape parade. Michael Collins, the command module pilot, was adopted by New Orleans as their favorite son. (He was from a military family).

I rode the bus downtown on a sunny August morning to witness the parade and shot several rolls of film. I wish I had gone with someone else, so that I could have been photographed with Collins. I put the camera aside at one point and worked my way through the crowd and shook Col. Collins hand.

I remember thinking how small his hands were.

Also in the photos was US Rep F. Edward Hebert (sunglasses), and Mayor Vic Schiro (mustache and bald head). Col. Ed Murphy was one of the Grand Marshals. He was commander of the US Air National Guard Fighter Group at the New Orleans Naval Air Station. That's were my father worked.

That night I made 8x10 enlargements of the better pictures.

That fall I became the photographic editor of our high school yearbook. Several of these photos made it into that publication.