Neil Armstrong display in New Richmond is educational

New Richmond students were able to remember Neil Armstrong and learn more about the former astronaut thanks to a display that was set up at New Richmond High School last week.

The display features several historical newspapers from 1969, giving students and teachers a glimpse back in time to when Armstrong stepped foot on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 space crew.

Armstrong died in Cincinnati Aug. 25. He was 82 years old.

Ralph Shepherd, a New Richmond resident and former board of education member, brought the newspapers to the high school to display after Armstrong died.

Shepherd said the newspapers are original papers that he acquired and has kept through the years.

“I was a traveling shoe salesman,” Shepherd said. “A shoe store in Wapakoneta saved me all those papers. That is why I have them.”

Shepherd said he thought students at New Richmond would like to see the papers from Armstrong’s hometown, which told the stories of Armstrong’s journey to the moon and back 43 years ago.

Joyce Montgomery, the librarian at New Richmond High School, said students have been curious about the papers since the display was set up.

“A lot of students didn’t realize Neil lived in the area and that he passed in a Cincinnati hospital” Montgomery said. “They were intrigued at how old the papers are.”

Montgomery said many younger students didn’t know much about the Apollo 11 mission. She said many of the teachers have asked about the papers as well.

New Richmond Principal Mark Bailey said he thought it was a great idea to display the papers when Shepherd brought them.

“We just thought it was a wonderful opportunity,” Bailey said. “It was a monumental event.”