One Giant Leap ~ Celebrating Apollo 11: Carmen Stella

July 19, 2019

By Meredith McCulloch

John Stella sent this message about his father, the late Carmen Stella

We remember 50 years ago July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong made the famous speech when he was the first man to walk on the moon, saying, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

My late father was Carmen Stella. He was a subcontractor administrator for RCA Corporation at the former Burlington MA facility late in the 1960s and mid-1970s. RCA won a contract with NASA for the Apollo space program.

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It was an honor when my late father proudly received his certificate of award:  “This award presented to Carmen Stella for his participation in the Apollo program and contributing to the success of the United States’ goal to the moon.”

My father visited my school, the Boston School for the Deaf in Randolph MA, and also visited the former Center School in Bedford MA talking to students and teachers about the success of the Apollo space program.

I appreciate that my late father served our country in the U.S. Air Force and served at RCA on the Apollo space program.

The last space program to the moon was in1972. I supported President Kennedy’s call for our first trip to the moon and I support President Trump’s plan to go back to the moon.

Editor’s note 1: On December 11, 2017 speaking of his space policy directive, Trump said, “This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints,”  “We will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.” (NY Times, December 11, 2017.)

Editor’s Note 2: Meredith McCulloch has sought out individuals with Bedford connections who were part of NASA’s Apollo program – Click this link to learn more about her project – each of the interviews will appear separately, under the individual’s name, and will be collected in a single reference document once all are posted.

 

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