This is a photo of the three Apollo 11 Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins visiting Tehran during their worldwide goodwill tour after they returned to Earth from the moon.
I was an avid astronomy buff and loved everything related to space, astronomy, and space travel. When the astronauts decided to visit the Iranian Crown Jewels display at the Central Bank (Bank Markazi) since my dad worked there, I got a chance to visit with them and someone took this picture of them with me at the age of 12.
They even signed a unique picture of themselves for me which would be worth something today if I had not left it sitting in the window for a few months in direct sunlight and since they had used magic markers, only a trace of their autographs remain.
Neil Armstrong was my hero growing up, and so my dad nudged me towards him to take another photo with him; however, I inadvertently bumped into him instead and he gave me the meanest look I can remember as to say “kid get out of my way”. I was quite disappointed as most people are when they meet their heroes. Buzz Aldrin was fun though. With all the recent rememberance and nostalgia about the flight 40 years ago, this photo brought back memories from the good old days in Tehran.
