David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "First Men on the Moon" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. On July 20, 1969, America's Apollo 11 mission achieved the goal which had driven the U.S. space program almost from the start. With the words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed," a small module carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin gracefully touched down on the moon. An estimated five hundred million persons -- one of every seven people on earth -- listened as Neil Armstrong emerged from the module and climbed down the ladder towards the lunar surface. And all the world shared the sense of pride when Armstrong stepped off carefully and remarked, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." For with Armstrong's small step, mankind's long dream of standing on a world other than his own had been fulfilled. Some nineteen minutes later, Aldrin climbed out of the module and the two Americans explored the strange, empty world around them before returning home. This artwork honors these two astronauts' courageous achievement -- along with the American ingenuity, industry and know-how that made it all possible. Image Size: 17.75 x 20.75 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 27 in. Unframed. (B12005)