It has been 57 years since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Yes! July 20, 2026 marks the 57th anniversary of Apollo 11's moon landing.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on Google57 years ago on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first man to walk on the surface of the moon. Millions of people sat with bated breath as Apollo 11 landed, creating history. And now, decades later, Walter Fruland's cousin has reflected on what went down inside their home as the family waited for the news about the mission.
So, as we recount the magnificent milestone and the behind-the-scenes moments on Earth while Neil Armstrong made history, let's also take a look at Armstrong's personal life and his two marriages.
Bob Kreienkamp was a camera operator during 1969 and was stationed outside Neil Armstrong's parents' home. Whereas Walter Fruland was the NASA protocol officer assigned to Janet Armstrong and the couple's two sons during the landing. Now, their cousin, Gary Fruland, has reflected on the milestone day and revealed what went down while Armstrong made history.
"Originally, it didn't seem like such a big deal to me, other than the fact that we were going to land on the moon. There were so many people involved in the setup process — miles of cables and a scaffolded microwave tower that had to be built higher than the trees in the backyard. Then, as we finished our preparations, Apollo 11 blasted off and hundreds of people descended on Stephen and Viola Armstrong's home. It really began to sink in that I was in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime event."
Gary Fruland recalled how proud they were when Walter Fruland was selected to be the protocol officer for the Armstrong family in such uncertain yet crucial times. He reflected on how everyone had their own set of duties. Meanwhile, Bob Kreienkamp shared a surprising moment from the day and stated:
"The most surprising moment was when Viola Armstrong brought lemonade and cookies out to our television crew and told us she was 'worried' about us working in the hot July weather. My first thought was that she was worried about all of us strangers when she might never see her own son alive again. It showed that doing something kind for others was simply part of her natural personality."
Meanwhile, inside the house, things were exciting and nervous at the same time. Gary Fruland recalled how the Armstrong boys were incredibly joyful to see their father make history, whereas Neil Armstrong's wife, Janet, was trying to stay calm as she took in the moment. Gary revealed what Walter had previously shared with him and said:
"He said the boys were wide-eyed and incredibly excited to see their father so far away on the moon, which they had previously looked at with him from their backyard. Walter said Janet was calm, kept to herself, and took it all in minute by minute."
So as the world celebrates 57 years of Apollo 11's historical landing, let's meet Neil Armstrong's wives. At the time of landing, Armstrong was married to Janet Shearon. The two tied the knot in 1956 after being together for decades. They first met at Purdue University, and Janet was his constant source of strength and support throughout his Apollo mission, from early test pilot runs to the day he landed on the moon. The couple shared three children, Eric, Mark, and Karen.
However, Karen died after suffering from a brain tumor. However, while Neil Armstrong made history in 1969, his dedication to his career eventually took a toll on his marriage, and the couple parted ways in 1990 and finalized their divorce in 1994. Armstrong gave love another go when he married Carol Held Knight the same year he finalized his divorce with Janet.
According to reports, he and Carol met at a breakfast event in 1992 and got married two years later. The couple remained together till Neil Armstrong's death in 2012. Apart from keeping Armstrong's legacy alive, she is also a renowned businesswoman. While she and the astronaut didn't have a child, Knight is the mother of two children from her previous marriage to Ralph Knight.
What are your thoughts on Neil Armstrong's marital life? Let us know.
Next Read: Odelya Halevi Is Pregnant, Recalls How Hormones Made Her Hate The Home She Spent A Year Renovating