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Find a grave: Werhner von Braun, Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia
I've seen his grave. Several of my family members are buried at Ivy Hill.
Apollo 11 would have never occurred 50 years ago had it not been for a rocket engineer with an Alexandria connection
July 15th, 2019
The Apollo 11 astronauts began their remarkable journey to the moon 50 years ago today. Their trip got off the ground, in no small part, thanks to Wernher von Braun, a German-American rocket engineer who was laid to rest in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Three-two-one-zero, all engines running, lift off, we have a lift off,” relayed the voice of launch control on July 16, 1969. The engines of the most powerful rocket ever built flashed to life and the giant Saturn V rocket thundered off its Kennedy Space Center launchpad carrying Neal Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon.
“Our whole family was at the Cape for the launch on July 16. I took my little Brownie camera because, at age 17, I thought nobody else was going to remember to take a picture,” recalled Margrit von Braun, 67, an environmental engineer who retired from the faculty at the University of Idaho and the daughter of Werhner von Braun.
....
The family was living in Alexandria when von Braun died in 1977 and he was laid to rest in Ivy Hill Cemetery on King Street, a historic cemetery established in 1856 in the city’s Rosemont neighborhood.
“He is the most notable. He’s the world-wide notable that we get the most inquiries about,” said Lucy Goddin, general manager, Ivy Hill Cemetery. She said visitors often seek out the grave of the great rocket engineer.
....
July 15th, 2019
The Apollo 11 astronauts began their remarkable journey to the moon 50 years ago today. Their trip got off the ground, in no small part, thanks to Wernher von Braun, a German-American rocket engineer who was laid to rest in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Three-two-one-zero, all engines running, lift off, we have a lift off,” relayed the voice of launch control on July 16, 1969. The engines of the most powerful rocket ever built flashed to life and the giant Saturn V rocket thundered off its Kennedy Space Center launchpad carrying Neal Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon.
“Our whole family was at the Cape for the launch on July 16. I took my little Brownie camera because, at age 17, I thought nobody else was going to remember to take a picture,” recalled Margrit von Braun, 67, an environmental engineer who retired from the faculty at the University of Idaho and the daughter of Werhner von Braun.
....
The family was living in Alexandria when von Braun died in 1977 and he was laid to rest in Ivy Hill Cemetery on King Street, a historic cemetery established in 1856 in the city’s Rosemont neighborhood.
“He is the most notable. He’s the world-wide notable that we get the most inquiries about,” said Lucy Goddin, general manager, Ivy Hill Cemetery. She said visitors often seek out the grave of the great rocket engineer.
....
Find A Grave | Wernher von Braun
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Scientist. His work on rockets and missiles helped NASA land a man on the moon. His involvement with the German Nazi Party during his early career and in World War II cast a shadow on his legacy. He is considered by many as the preeminent rocket engineer of the 20th century, serving as the Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and was the chief architect of the Saturn V launch missile that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon.
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When the NASA was established in 1958, Von Braun was soon made the first Director of the new Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsville, Alabama. There, von Braun developed the Saturn and Saturn V missile systems, which would play critical roles in manned space flight programs. In 1970, Von Braun was promoted to NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning. When his favored Apollo program was cut in funds after several successful moon landings, Von Braun decided to retire, leaving NASA in May 1972. Upon leaving NASA, Von Braun became Vice President for Engineering and Development of Fairchild Industries. But in 1973, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and was forced to retire again in December 1976. While hospitalized, he was awarded the 1975 National Medal of Science and died of kidney cancer in June 1977. Over the years, Von Braun has been awarded numerous honors, including 12 honorary doctorates, NASA's Distinguished Service Medal (1969), the Civilian International World Citizenship Award (1970), and the German Federal Service Cross (1959).
Added by Daniel Sheron
Added by Martin L. Skubinna
....
Scientist. His work on rockets and missiles helped NASA land a man on the moon. His involvement with the German Nazi Party during his early career and in World War II cast a shadow on his legacy. He is considered by many as the preeminent rocket engineer of the 20th century, serving as the Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and was the chief architect of the Saturn V launch missile that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon.
....
When the NASA was established in 1958, Von Braun was soon made the first Director of the new Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsville, Alabama. There, von Braun developed the Saturn and Saturn V missile systems, which would play critical roles in manned space flight programs. In 1970, Von Braun was promoted to NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning. When his favored Apollo program was cut in funds after several successful moon landings, Von Braun decided to retire, leaving NASA in May 1972. Upon leaving NASA, Von Braun became Vice President for Engineering and Development of Fairchild Industries. But in 1973, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and was forced to retire again in December 1976. While hospitalized, he was awarded the 1975 National Medal of Science and died of kidney cancer in June 1977. Over the years, Von Braun has been awarded numerous honors, including 12 honorary doctorates, NASA's Distinguished Service Medal (1969), the Civilian International World Citizenship Award (1970), and the German Federal Service Cross (1959).
Added by Daniel Sheron
Added by Martin L. Skubinna