Moonwalker rips film omitting flag planting
A moonwalker is taking a shot at the upcoming “First Man” biopic that cuts out the historic planting of the American flag on the lunar surface.
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin — the second man down the Apollo 11 ladder on July 20, 1969 — tweeted his support of the flag late Sunday.
His tweet states, “#proudtobeanAmerican #freedom #honor #onenation #Apollo11 #July1969 #roadtoApollo50.” It included two photos from the moment he and crew mate Neil Armstrong erected the flag in a moment seen around the universe.
But it’s not part of the drama in the “First Man” flick starring Ryan Gosling. The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is set to open nationwide next month.
Aldrin, 88, jumped in with his view — including an added tweet of the Earth as seen from the moon — just days after Armstrong’s two surviving sons attempted to ground the flag debate.
“This story is human and it is universal. Of course, it celebrates an America achievement. It also celebrates an achievement ‘for all mankind,’” Rick Armstrong and Mark Armstrong said in a statement along with the author of their dad’s story, James R. Hansen.
“The filmmakers chose to focus on Neil looking back at the earth, his walk to Little West Crater, his unique, personal experience of completing this journey, a journey that has seen so many incredible highs and devastating lows,” the men added.
Gosling said in Venice that Armstrong was “extremely humble” and “didn’t consider himself a hero,” saying the mission milestones “transcend countries and borders,” according to The Associated Press.
That has backfired for those who say the flag should be more prominent.
“This is total lunacy. And a disservice at a time when our people need reminders of what we can achieve when we work together,” Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted. “The American people paid for that mission, on rockets built by Americans, with American technology & carrying American astronauts. It wasn’t a UN mission.”